WALES are expected to catapult themselves into the Fifa top 10 for the first time when the official rankings are announced on Thursday.

Chile’s failure to beat Argentina in normal time to take the Copa America title means that Y Dreigiau have the edge in the complex formula Fifa use to determine world rankings, keeping the South Americans out of the top 10 — a win within 90 minutes would have put them eighth.

Wales’s record-high place — a leap from 22nd — comes just four years after their lowest-ever ranking of 117th.

The Dragons’ stellar Euro qualifying campaign, crowned by a 1-0 win over second-ranked Belgium, who are expected to drop to third.

England are also expected to break into the top 10 from their current 15th to sit one place above Chris Coleman’s men.

Argentina are expected to leapfrog current number-one Germany and Belgium to lead the world rankings.

Wales have not qualified for a World Cup since being knocked out in the 1958 quarter-finals and have never qualified for the Euros.