World Netball has issued its latest world rankings, incorporating all match results up to 1 December 2025, and the update has sealed invitations for the first six nations heading to the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027. Host nation Australia will be joined by New Zealand, Jamaica, England, South Africa and a resurgent Uganda, who reclaimed sixth place at the perfect moment.
Uganda’s return to the global top tier came after a commanding, unbeaten run at the Celtic Cup, capped by a decisive 70–48 victory over Wales on the final day. The She Cranes’ dominant performance pushed Wales down to seventh and reaffirmed Uganda’s standing among the world’s elite as qualification momentum begins to build toward 2027.
The remaining 10 World Cup spots will be filled through five regional qualifying tournaments scheduled for 2026, with the top two teams from each region securing an invitation. The tournament itself is set for 25 August to 5 September 2027, promising a showcase of the sport’s strongest and fastest-rising nations.
World Netball President Dame Liz Nicholl DBE applauded the six early qualifiers, praising their consistency and excellence. She noted that having all WN regions represented in the top six once again underscores the expanding competitive depth of international netball and the global progress of the sport.
Further down the rankings table, Canada delivered the biggest leap, vaulting 17 places from 47th to 30th after an impressive Battle of the Isles campaign. The update also welcomed Guadeloupe and Bermuda into the official rankings at joint 50th and 20th respectively, after both nations reached the minimum match threshold to qualify for ranking status.
