Canada Rises to 40th in the World Rankings

Boosted by victories over Mexico and Costa Rica, Canada climbed eight places to 40^e rank in the most recent FIFA World Ranking, matching its best ever.

Canadian players had also reached the 40^e rank in December 1996. FIFA, which began compiling the rankings in 1992, revamped its ranking formula in 2018.

Canada started the year at 72^e rank, but steadily gained ground with a 13-2-4 record in 2021 that saw John Herdman’s side dominate Concacaf’s current final round of World Cup qualifying .

Canada conceded its only losses to the United States and Mexico in the Gold Cup. The Canadians have outscored their rivals 55-11 this year.

Canada occupied the 94^e rank, between Gabon and the Faroe Islands, when Herdman took up his coaching duties in January 2018. At the time, Canadian players were ranked 10^es among the Concacaf countries in the FIFA rankings, behind Mexico, the United States, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Panama, Haiti, Honduras, Curaçao and Trinidad and Tobago.

Today, they rank third in the region.

Mexico slipped five positions to 14^e rank after World Cup qualifying losses to the United States and Canada this month as the United States moved up a spot in 12^e to take first place in Concacaf.

Belgium, Brazil and France remain at the top of the standings, but their lead is now reduced. England and Argentina both won places in the 4^e and 5^e positions, while Italy lost two steps in the 6^e rank. Spain and Portugal follow in order, while Denmark and the Netherlands round out the top 10.

Of the 13 countries already qualified for the World Cup in Qatar next year, 11 are ranked among the top 15 nations. Serbia (no 23) and Qatar (no 51) are the other qualified teams.

The Canadians, gold medalists at the recent Olympic Games in Tokyo, are currently ranked sixth by FIFA.