Canada coach Jesse Marsch celebrates the team’s win in a Copa America quarterfinal soccer match between Venezuela and Canada in Arlington, Texas, Friday, July 5, 2024. Canada Soccer says the Canadian men’s team will play at least two friendlies in Montreal in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Richard Rodriguez
Spain’s players celebrate after scoring during a friendly soccer match between Spain and South Korea in Salzburg, Austria, Wednesday, June 1, 2016. The Spain National Football Team is in Austria for a training camp in preparation for the EURO 2016 soccer championships, hosted by France.(AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)
Canada coach Jesse Marsch celebrates the team’s win in a Copa America quarterfinal soccer match between Venezuela and Canada in Arlington, Texas, Friday, July 5, 2024. Canada Soccer says the Canadian men’s team will play at least two friendlies in Montreal in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Richard Rodriguez
The Canadian men’s soccer team continues its record climb, jumping two places to No. 26 in the latest FIFA world rankings.
Spain takes over top spot for the first time since June 2014 with France also moving up one rung to No. 2 as Argentina slips two places to No. 3. The Argentines had been No. 1 since April 2023.
Canada was ranked 49th when American Jesse Marsch took over in May 2024.Â
The Canadians have climbed steadily since and surpassed their previous high of No. 33 (set in February 2022 under former coach John Herdman after an impressive World Cup qualifying run) when they reached No. 31 in November.
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Canada closed out 2024 unchanged at No. 31 before setting new marks of No. 30 in April and No. 28 in July.
The Canadian men, whose lowest ranking was No. 122 in October 2014, are sandwiched between Australia and Turkey after defeating Romania (No. 51, down three) and Wales (No. 30, up one) in the September FIFA window.
Elsewhere in the top 10, England remains at No. 4 while Portugal rises one spot to No. 5. Brazil falls one place to No. 6 with the Netherlands and Belgium unchanged at No. 7 and 8. Croatia and Italy move up one spot to No. 9 and No. 10, respectively, with Germany falling out of the top 10 for the first time since October 2024, dropping three places to No. 12.Â
Germany’s position was hurt by a World Cup qualifying loss at Slovakia, which jumped 10 places to No. 42.
Morocco, which won eight of its nine matches since the last rankings in July, is on the verge of cracking the top 10 after climbing one spot to No. 11.
Mexico, down one at No. 14, continues to lead CONCACAF with the United States second at No. 16 after slipping one spot. Canada ranks third.
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Canada plays Australia (No. 25, down one) and Colombia (No. 13, up one) next month.
FIFA says more 215 matches were played since the last rankings in July.
Other big movers were The Gambia (No. 115, up eight), Madagascar (No. 108, up seven), Paraguay (No. 37, up six), Uganda (No. 82, up six), Libya (No. 112, up five), Suriname (No. 131, up five) and the Faroe Islands (No. 136, up five).
Going the other way was Zimbabwe, down nine to No. 125.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 18, 2025.
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