Kuala Lumpur: Australia will enter Saturday's FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 official draw as one of the six seeded teams, after the latest FIFA World Rankings update was revealed on Friday.
The final update, issued a day before the official ceremony on Île Seguin in the western suburbs of Paris, made few changes to the existing world order, but confirmed the Matildas as part of Pot 1, which features the world's top six teams.
Alen Stajcic's squad, Asia's highest ranked side in sixth, will join the United States, Germany, England, Canada and host nation France as seeded teams in the draw, dramatically decreasing their prospects of being placed in a 'group of death'.
As Asia's second highest ranked team, eighth-ranked Japan are in Pot 2 for the draw, while the three remaining AFC qualifiers Korea Republic (14th), China PR (15th) and Thailand (29th) are all in Pot 3.
While three of the four pots featuring Asian sides, they will remain separated until the knockout stage, with competition rules preventing any two AFC teams from being drawn in the same group.
The Asian contingent will discover their path to potential glory on Saturday, with the match schedule for the global women's football extravaganza to be revealed, with former Japan midfielder Aya Miyama - a FIFA Women's World Cup winner in 2011 - participating in in the ceremony as one of seven draw assistants.
Reigning world champions the United States remain at the peak of the global rankings, with Germany and France completing the top three.
The France 2019 draw will begin at 18:00 local time on Saturday.
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— Westfield Matildas (@TheMatildas) December 7, 2018
FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019: Official Draw Pots
POT 1: France, USA, Germany, England, Canada, Australia
POT 2: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Brazil, Spain, Norway
POT 3: Korea Republic, China PR, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, Thailand
POT 4: Argentina, Chile, Nigeria, Cameroon, South Africa, Jamaica
FIFA Women's World Ranking - Asian top 10
1. Australia (6)
2. Japan (8)
3. DPR Korea (11)
4. Korea Republic (14)
5. China PR (15)
6. Thailand (29)
7. Vietnam (35)
8. Chinese Taipei (40)
9. Myanmar (44)
10. Jordan (52)
Source: the-afc.com