The US men’s national team moved up four spots in the latest edition of the FIFA rankings, though they still sit third in CONCACAF behind Mexico and Costa Rica.
The US is now 22nd in the world rankings, seven spots behind Mexico, who fell one spot to No. 15, and four places behind 18th-ranked Costa Rica. This is the highest that the US, who clinched a spot in the Hexagonal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying with wins at St. Vincent and the Grenadines and against Trinidad and Tobago earlier this month, has been ranked since placing 17th in the September 2014 FIFA rankings.
Canada, who failed to qualify for the Hexagonal earlier this month, dropped three spots to No. 103.
Argentina held onto their spot atop the rankings, while Belgium – who regularly feature Montreal Impact center back Laurent Ciman on their roster – stayed put at No. 2. Germany climbed one spot to third, switching places with Colombia, who are now tied with Brazil for fourth. Chile, Portugal, France, Uruguay – for whom Seattle midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro is a regular starter – and Wales round out the top-10.
Panama placed fourth among CONCACAF teams, coming in at No. 62 in the rankings. They’re followed by Trinidad and Tobago at No. 69, with St. Kitts and Nevis surprisingly clocking in next at No. 77. Guatemala and Jamaica are ranked 79th and 80th, respectively, while Honduras, who qualified for the Hexagonal along with CONCACAF’s top-five ranked teams, sit at No. 82.
