The journey to being No. 1 is tough, but staying there is even tougher. It’s not just about excellence; it’s about proving yourself over and over again. For Emma Hayes’s side, even with their top ranking, critics continue to question if they are truly the best. Isn’t it interesting how being at the top often invites comparisons to your own past glory? Ali Krieger, a USWNT legend, recently touched on this very idea.

In the final show of ‘Futbol Americas‘ of 2024, Sebastian Salazar and Ali Krieger shared their thoughts on FIFA’s latest rankings, with the Emma Hayes side holding strong at number one. The debate wasn’t just about the ranking, though—it was about whether they’re truly the best team in the world. “I gotta be honest with you, Ali, I am never one to applaud FIFA for many things… many things, actually, but definitely not their rankings. Their rankings, to me, always seem a little bit off, but I think they got this pretty much spot on.“ Sebastian started off with a bit of skepticism toward FIFA but admitted they got this one right.

Sebastian believes that the Emma Hayes side deserves to be ranked number one for winning a major tournament but acknowledges debate over whether they’re the best team overall, citing Spain’s strong case despite their Olympic setbacks. “I think we also, Ali, have to consider a team like England, who, again, we didn’t see at the Olympics. So the US didn’t have to go through an England or a Sweden, who we know have given the US problems before, to get to this gold medal. So, for me, US—undoubtedly number one in the rankings. Are they the best team in the world? That’s where I still might have my doubts. You could throw Spain, you could throw an England into that conversation very easily for me.“

Ali agreed, pointing out the challenges and transitional phase the USWNT is facing. “No, I completely agree with you. I think also just with the few injuries and also, like you made a point, England and Sweden were not in the tournament, which was unfortunate.” Ali considers the top five teams—Germany, Brazil, Spain, Japan, and the USA—reasonably ranked but acknowledges the US is in a transitional phase with a young team. “But I do agree. I know that the US has definitely a young team and are kind of in their transitional moment.”

For now, the USA leads the way, but the battle for dominance is far from over. Only consistency will decide who truly reigns supreme in women’s soccer. “In the future, I think, years to come, you’re gonna have to see that consistency, that confidence, and, you know, USA hopefully staying at the top. But I do agree there could be some discrepancy within the team. But those top five teams are definitely where they should be, I think, ranked at least in the top 10.”

Under Emma Hayes, the team has been on an incredible run. With 11 wins and a draw, her leadership has brought shining moments like the 2024 Olympic gold medal and the SheBelieves Cup victory. Yet, challenges remain. Injuries have left the young team vulnerable at times. Didn’t we see a glimpse of this in their recent friendly match, where they couldn’t secure a win?

Ali Krieger exposes how USWNT fared without their iconic Triple Espresso

The trio of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson was the driving force behind the USWNT’s attack during the 2024 Paris Olympics, scoring 10 of the team’s 12 goals and securing Olympic gold. However, in recent friendlies against England and the Netherlands, the front line was given a well-deserved rest after a long and grueling year of soccer.

Despite the absence of this star trio, Krieger remains confident in the team’s strength, highlighting the depth of talent within the squad. “Yeah, I think the US. Despite the fact that Triple Espresso is not going to be present, I do still think that the depth that we have with these younger players has been incredible, and they’ve really proven themselves, that they’re ambitious and willing to take on their task.”

So the question remains can the USWNT continue to perform at the highest level consistently?