Japan’s national soccer team is on the verge of breaking into the top 10 of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) rankings after back-to-back wins over Germany and Turkiye. It will be the first time in 11 years that Japan has been ranked in the top 10 since 2012.

According to Futbol Ranking, which compiles the FIFA rankings in real time, Japan is on track to move up one spot in the FIFA rankings from 20th to 19th with a score of 1605.20 points, up 9.24 points from July. Earlier, Japan earned 5.39 points for a 4-1 victory over Germany and 3.85 points for a 4-2 neutral-site win over Turkiye.굿모닝토토

When the FIFA rankings are finalized in September, Japan will be ranked in the top 10 for the first time since 2012, when it was ranked 19th. Japan’s previous highest ranking was No. 9 in 1998. It will also retain its No. 1 ranking in Asia. Japan has been ranked No. 1 in Asia since reaching No. 20 in the FIFA rankings last December.

South Korea, led by Jürgen Klinsmann, will be ranked 26th, up two spots from July. South Korea was deducted 0.22 points for the 0-0 draw with Wales, but earned 3.94 points for beating Saudi Arabia earlier in the day. Their total score of 1533.02 points will boost their ranking. South Korea has been on a downward spiral in the rankings, from 25th in December last year to 27th in April this year and 28th in June and July.

South Korea’s national soccer team striker Cho Kyu-sung, left, celebrates with Lee Jae-sung after scoring a goal during a national soccer team trial match against Saudi Arabia on Sept. 13.

In Asia, South Korea is expected to finish third in the region behind Japan (19th) and Iran (21st). Australia, which played only one friendly against Mexico (a 2-2 draw) during the September A-match, will remain at No. 27 but drop to No. 4 in Asia, behind South Korea. They will be followed by Saudi Arabia (57th), Qatar (61st), and the United Arab Emirates (69th).

South Korea’s opponent in the October assessment, Tunisia, will climb two spots to 29th place, up from 31st in July, according to the media outlet. The Tunisians defeated Botswana, 3-0, and Egypt, 3-1, this month. Vietnam, the first Southeast Asian team to be scheduled for a domestic test in 32 years, will also move up one spot from 95th to 94th. Tunisia and Vietnam will play on Oct. 13 (Seoul World Cup) and Oct. 17 (Suwon World Cup), respectively.

South Korea’s opponents for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup next January remain outside the top 80. Jordan is ranked 84th, Bahrain 86th and Malaysia 136th. The top five in the FIFA rankings remain unchanged, led by Argentina, followed by France, Brazil, England, and Belgium, according to Futbolanking. The September FIFA rankings will be officially released on September 21.