45 days to GO: Brazil will be top-ranked team at World Cup in Qatar

Brazil players celebrate after their teammate Marquinhos scores his side's opening goal during the international friendly soccer match between Brazil and Ghana in Le Havre, western France, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Brazil will go to this year's World Cup as the top-rated team after extending its lead over second-place Belgium in the latest FIFA rankings released Thursday.

Brazil won its two warmup games in September - against Ghana and Tunisia - while Belgium lost to the Netherlands in one of its two Nations League games.