Iran three places up in latest FIFA Asian rankings

IRNA - Iran moved up three places in the latest Asian rankings released by the world soccer`s governing body FIFA Wednesday. 
According to the FIFA website, Iran climbed from the 45th spot to 42nd position, standing fourth in the Asian rankings after South Korea, Japan, and Saudi Arabia with 599 points. 
Asian countries were the big winners in the FIFA for October, which saw South Korea take over as the top Asian country. 
Making its mark in the qualifying rounds of the 2004 Asian Cup in China, several Asian countries made huge leaps. 
South Korea, with three recent victories under its belt, climbed from 39th position to 22nd, to take over top spot in the Asian rankings from Japan, which slipped from 22nd to 25th. 
Other big mover was Saudi Arabia (from 49th to 30th) and Kuwait (from 78th to 50th), giving the two countries their best places in the ranking for two and six years respectively. 
Asian top 10 (world position in bracket) 
1. Korea Republic (22) 
2. Japan (25) 
3. Saudi Arabia (30) 
4. Iran (42) 
5. Kuwait (50) 
6. Iraq (52) 
7. Thailand (66) 
8. Jordan (71) 
9. China PR (78) 
10. Qatar (79) 
BRAZIL KEEPS LEAD 
World champion Brazil stayed top of the FIFA world rankings ahead of France. 
Spain and Argentina remained third and fourth, with the Netherlands moving up from seventh in September to fifth spot and England staying sixth. 
Germany improved from ninth to seventh ahead of three teams level in eighth place, Italy, Turkey and Mexico, with the Czech Republic slipping from ninth to 11th. 
October rankings (top 20): 
1. Brazil (854 points) 
2. France (827) 
3. Spain (777) 
4. Argentina (747) 
5. Netherlands (746) 
6. England (745) 
7. Germany (744) 
8. Italy (742) 
8. Turkey (742) 
8. Mexico (742) 
11. Czech Republic (739) 
12. United States (731) 
13. Cameroon (711) 
14. Denmark (707) 
15. Ireland (705) 
16. Belgium (696) 
17. Portugal (686) 
18. Sweden (681) 
19. Costa Rica (680) 
20. Croatia (664) 
CAMEROON TOP 
African champion Cameroon remained at the top of the FIFA African rankings. 
The Indomitable Lions, who finished second in this year`s Confederations Cup behind France, remained in the 13th spot in the world rankings. 
As few African countries were involved in international matches, most African countries made only small moves. 
South Africa, which beat 19th-placed Costa Rica 2-1 in a friendly earlier this month, took over second place in the African rankings from Senegal. 
The Bafana-Bafana also managed to leap over Nigeria`s Super Eagles to go from a shared fourth place to second in the rankings. 
African top 10 (world position in bracket) 
1. Cameroon (13) 
2. South Africa (31) 
3. Nigeria (32) 
4. Senegal (34) 
5. Morocco (38) 
6. Egypt (40) 
7. Tunisia (45) 
8. Zimbabwe (50) 
9. Congo DR (54) 
10. Mali (56)