Photo by Soobum Im/USA Today Sports
By DAN KARELL
Even with a win in April, the U.S. Men’s National Team fell in the latest FIFA Rankings, largely due to a large jump from Russia.
The USMNT check in at No. 28 in May’s FIFA World Rankings, one place lower from last month’s rankings. While the U.S. gained 10 points from their home friendly 2-0 victory over Mexico in San Antonio, Texas, Russia jumped up five places to No. 27 thanks to a 47 point jump, and now sit three points ahead of the U.S. in the rankings. Russia were awarded a 3-0 victory over Montenegro after multiple instances of crowd violence during a Euro 2016 qualifying match in Montenegro forced the match to be abandoned.
In CONCACAF, Mexico’s lost cost them even more, as they dropped four places to No. 22. Costa Rica remains the top ranked CONCACAF team at No. 15, and the USA, Panama at No. 53, and Trinidad and Tobago at No. 65 round out the top five CONCACAF countries.
There wasn’t much movement in the rest of the rankings, especially at the top. The top 17 national teams all remained level, led by Germany, Argentina, Belgium, Colombia, and Brazil, but the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Algeria all moved up into the top 20. Wales increased another place as well to No. 21.
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What do you think of this news? Are you okay with this ranking? Do you see the U.S. moving closer to the top 20 after this summer’s games?
Share your thoughts below.
We can’t develop enough players to make it to the second round of the world cup and people have the nerve to complain about FIFA rankings.We have bigger problems than that.
Ummmm, we’ve made it to the “second round” (Round of 16) in 3 of the last 4 world cups…what are you talking about?
Dont let the facts get in the way of a post
Many will make fun of the FIFA ratings and say they don’t matter or that they aren’t accurate but the fact is that JK is NOT doing what he was hired to do. If anything, we are going the wrong direction. We are too dependent on mercenary talent, we’ve lost our identity and who knows what JK will even do next. At some point soon, JK needs to go and we need to reclaim our program
Put the pipe down and SLOWLY walk away from the keyboard. You do know that the fact that European and COMNEBOL teams have played a lot of qualifying matches ad US has only played friendlies really hurt since friendlies result count as almost nothing.
True, we can sink even lower after the Gold Cup if we fail to show well there
I say this every month but the connection between reality and FIFA rankings isn’t that strong. However, because FIFA uses them for seeding at the world cup they are worthy of attention. If FIFA uses the same clown system they used in Brazil, we better get used to groups of death from the foreseeable future.
Exactly. We could all save a lot of time by just referring to this comment every time the FIFA rankings come out.
That has to be made up. The US dropped one spot because Russia won a forfeit victory.
LOL
But not just any forfeit victory. This one was over Montenegro.
Granted it was a weak period of play for the US, they beat a mortal lock to make the World Cup Final 16, Mexico.
Loud noises….rabble, rabble, rabble!!!!
What do you expect when you play garbage like Zardes? USMNT is laughingstock because of that clown
One note me: bottom half of the top 32 is about right. We could do better, but not yet, I guess.
No I’m not okay with this ranking! We should be top ten. JK sucks. The lineups he uses are way different than the ones I would if I were coach! And I want Landon Donovan!
Quit being so namby-pamby Soccer Kyle. Just firing JK is not enough! Break out the torches, pitchforks, tar and feathers and meet me in the town square!