Brazil to top FIFA rankings for 1st time in 6 years

Brazil's commanding performances en route to the 2018 World Cup in Russia will be recognised with top spot in the FIFA World Ranking when the table is published April 6.

The Canarinho has been liberated under the management of Tite, scoring 35 goals in 14 matches of CONMEBOL qualification - including comprehensive dismissals of Uruguay and Argentina, the latter of which will relinquish first place in the rankings.

Tite has been in charge for nine of those competitive outings after his predecessor Dunga was sacked, and became the first manager to guide his team to the World Cup finals. The route was confirmed when Peru stole a shock 2-1 win over Uruguay in Lima on Tuesday night.

Brazil's ascent follows two confident triumphs over Uruguay and Paraguay, while Argentina - which was at the summit for 12 months - drops to second after an unconvincing win over Chile and a lifeless 2-0 loss in Bolivia.

That defeat in La Paz - played without Lionel Messi because of his controversial four-match ban - leaves La Albiceleste in the playoff position of the qualification table. Chile and Uruguay are a point better off than Argentina in the automatic spots for the Russian showpiece, and off-form Ecuador is two points behind Edgardo Bauza's lot.

Here's how the new FIFA top 20 will shape up:

1. Brazil
2. Argentina
3. Germany
4. Chile
5. Colombia
6. France
7. Belgium
8. Portugal
9. Switzerland
10. Spain
11. Poland
12. Italy
13. Wales
14. England
15. Uruguay
16. Mexico
17. Peru
18. Croatia
19. Egypt
20. Costa Rica