The latest rankings were reported Thursday on FIFA's website.

It has been a year and four months since Korea fell out of the top 30, after ranking 40th in May 2002, before the World Cup.

Korea’s ranking rose to 22nd place last July after the World Cup, and was up to 19th by March. But since June its ranking has been falling two or three rungs each month.

Japan, meanwhile, fell one notch from the previous month to 24th place, holding its reputation as the highest ranking Asian country.

Brazil has been ranked No. 1 since July, followed by France, Spain and Argentina. Korea’s highest ranking ever was in December of 1998, at 17th. (Na Jong-ho, najh@chosun.com )