Vera Pauw’s Ireland move up to highest-ever world ranking

Ireland have moved up in the world rankings

Aidan Fitzmaurice

The Republic of Ireland women's team are up to an all-time high of 22nd place in the FIFA world rankings.

FIFA today issued the updated rankings and that saw Vera Pauw's side move up one place to 22nd.

Northern Ireland are also moving up, to 45th, while England are just outside a top three which contains the USA, Germany and Sweden.

Australia, Ireland's first opponents in the World Cup finals, are in 10th place, Canada are sixth and Nigeria are 42nd.