The FIFA World National Team rankings released on 15 May 2002 (the last released before the World Cup 2002) were:

1 France
2 Brazil
2 (equal) Argentina
4 Columbia
5 Portugal
6 Italy
7 Mexico
8 Spain
9 Holland
10 Yugoslavia
11 Germany
12 England
13 USA
14 Romania
15 (equal) Republic of Ireland
15 Czech Republic
17 Cameroon
18 Paraguay
19 Sweden
20 Denmark
21 Croatia
22 Turkey
23 Belgium
24 Uruguay
25 Slovenia
26 Honduras
27 (equal) Nigeria
27 Russia
29 Costa Rica
30 (equal) Iran
30 Tunisia
(only top 30 shown)

The previous FIFA World National Team rankings released on 17 April 2002 were:

1 France
2 Brazil
3 Argentina
4 Columbia
5 Portugal
6 Italy
7 Mexico
7 (equal) Spain
9 Holland
10 Yugoslavia
11 England
12 Germany
13 USA
14 Czech Reupublic
14 (equal) Paraguay
16 Romania
17 Sweden
18 Cameroon
18 (equal) Republic of Ireland
20 Denmark
20 (equal) Uruguay
22 Belgium
23 Croatia
24 Russia
24 (equal) Turkey
26 Honduras
27 Costa Rica
28 Slovenia
29 Nigeria
29 (equal) Tunisia
(only top 30 shown)

The FIFA World National Team rankings at the end of 2001 were:
 
1 France
2 Argentina
3 Brazil
4 Portugal
5 Colombia
6 Italy
7 Spain
8 Netherlands
9 Mexico
10 England
11 Yugoslavia
12 Germany
13 Paraguay
14 Czech Republic
15 Romania
16 Sweden
17 Rep of Ireland
17 (equal) Denmark
19 Croatia
20 Belgium
21 Russia
22 Uruguay
23 Turkey
24  USA
25 Slovenia
25 (equal) Norway
25 (equal) Honduras
28 Tunisia
29 Iran
30 Costa Rica
31 Saudi Arabia
32 Trinadad and Tobago
33 Poland
34 Japan
35 South Africa
36 Morocco
37 Ecuador
38 Cameroon
39 Nigeria
39 (equal) Chile
41 Egypt
42 Korea Republic
43 Peru
44 Ivory Coast
45 Ukraine
46 Finland
46 (equal) Slovakia
48 Australia
49 Israel
50 Scotland
(only top 50 shown)