With very few matches having been played on the international front in the first month of the year, there is little movement in the first FIFA men’s world ranking of 2020.

And that includes the United States, which remained at No. 22.

Only 15 friendlies have taken place since the last ranking update in December – including two games in late 2019 – so there was little surprise that the top 20 remains unchanged with Belgium, France and Brazil still form the top three.

Some minor movement in the top 50 saw both Wales (23rd, down one) and Paraguay (41st, down one) fall a spot, while Ghana (46th, up on) rise slightly.

Palestine (103rd, up three) were the first big climbers of 2020. Its success in January’s Bangabandhu Cup sees the country leapfrog Estonia, Trinidad and Tobago, Mozambique and Kenya on the back of the month’s biggest move by points and rank.

Beaten Bangabandhu Cup finalists Burundi (149th, up two), which like Palestine contested four matches in January, climbed into the top 150.

Aruba (200th, up one) and Pakistan (200th, up one) edged up the ranking as well.

For the complete ranking, click here .

The next world ranking will be announced on April 9.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.