'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#6 Austria
Confederation - UEFA
Trending
Current FIFA ranking - 23
The Austrians are currently ranked number 23 in the world, which is a pretty impressive feat, seeing as they were ranked 105 less than a decade ago.
They have steadily built on the progress made since they co-hosted EURO 2008 and achieved an all-time high of having a top ten ranking in 2016.
The Central Europeans successfully navigated a EURO qualifiers for the first time in 2016 (their 2008 performance came by virtue of them being hosts), and much of the revival in the last decade have been founded on the back of the impressive side which finished fourth at the U20 World Cup in 2007 being integrated into the senior squad.
They have players like Aleksandar Dragovic, David Alaba, Kevin Wimmer, Sebastian Prodl and Marko Arnautovic who are all established regulars at major European clubs leading their charge on the international scene and finished second in their UEFA Nations League group.
#5 Qatar
Confederation - AFC
Current FIFA Ranking - 55
Qatar have never been renowned as a footballing nation throughout their history, although they achieved some notable results in the 1990s which saw them reach an all-time high of 53rd on the FIA rankings.
They fell some way off the radar at the start of the millennium until they were rather controversially announced as the hosts of the 2022 World Cup in 2010.
This newfound global attention (football wise) proved to be the catalyst to revamp Qatari football, with efforts being put into making their national league more professional.
Real Madrid legend and former captain Raul Gonzalez was among the most recent high profile arrivals in the Qatar Star Leagues, in addition to Barcelona icon Xavi Hernandez and former Atletico captain Gabi, while Gabriel Batistuta and Juninho Penembucano have starred in the past.
Despite all these, interest in football in the Gulf nation is still low, with the harsh climatic conditions being given as a major factor against attending live matches.
The Maroons however unexpectedly triumphed in the 2019 Asian Cup hosted by the UAE, defeating continental giants Japan in the final and this might serve as a springboard for success at the World Cup hosted on home soil.
