POLAND TO THE TOP OF THE RANKINGS

Leisure Leagues players from around the world enjoyed a mixed time of it after the world rankings for 6 a side football were announced.

Players from our Irish leagues were the big movers, rising to 26^th – one place above Pakistan who remain stable in 27^th. England are 7^th, down a couple of spots on the 2019 rankings (the last time they were calculated), Mexico up to eighth, Scotland  down to 11^th , and Hungary 14^th, Egypt up to 29tth and finally Wales down to 44^th.

Elsewhere Poland might have been knocked out in the semi-finals of the Leisure Leagues powered 6 a side World Cup, but they have received some good news with the announcement that they moved to the top of the World 6 a side rankings.

Klaudisz Hirsch’s men have reached the finals of the last two events and the last four of the recent one held in Hungary and have been rewarded for that consistency by being recognised as the best team in the world.

Brazil – who were the winners of the 2022 event – moved up to second in the rankings, with Germany third. Beaten finalists Kazakhstan are fourth.

There are now an astonishing 54 countries in the rankings, with the highest new entry being Ukraine – everyone’s second favourite team in the World Cup – who are 15^th. Host nation Hungary who did such a wonderful job of organising the event, sit in 14^th spot.

Tom Nash, who was part of the organising team paid tribute to the Polish squad and added: “This is great reward for their consistency at the top level, but also seeing so many new countries in the rankings like Iran, Georgia and Mauritius, proves the growth of our sport.”

There will be an opportunity for our players to make a real difference again and improve their standing when the biggest roadshow in 6 a side football moves to Germany in 2023, taking place in Essen next summer.

Keep an eye on the website to see how you can be part of then event.

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This post was written by Andy Thorley