Photo by Gary Rohman/USA Today Sports
By DAN KARELL
Heading into a pair of key September preparation matches, the U.S. Men’s National Team received some positive news.
On Thursday, FIFA published their September world rankings, and the USMNT moved up one place to No. 28 in the rankings, one spot behind Ghana and one ahead of Ukraine. The U.S. moved up mainly due to a two-place fall for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Within CONCACAF, the USMNT remain in second place behind Mexico, which is at No. 26. Costa Rica dropped one place to No. 39, Jamaica moved up three places to No. 52, and Trinidad and Tobago moved up two places to No. 54, rounding out the top five in the region.
Around the world, Chile made history by moving up two places to No. 8, while England dropped to No. 10, behind Wales. The top ten consists of Argentina, Belgium, Germany, Colombia, Brazil, Portugal, Romania, Chile, Wales and England, in that order.
The USMNT face Peru on Friday at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C., and then they face Brazil at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. on Tuesday, ahead of a key match against Mexico at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Oct. 10.
What do you think of this news? Glad to see the U.S. gaining back ground? How far do you think they can grow in the rankings this fall?
Share your thoughts below.
Eat our dust, Ukraine! And, we’re coming for you, Ghana! God, I love these FIFA rankings, and how intriguing they make every match. I don’t know if I’d follow international soccer without them! *makes fart sound with mouth*
I know I can’t wait to see Wales and Romania in the final of the Euro next Summer.
Sometimes I wonder if the USMNT should schedule some friendlies with teams like San Marino to take advantage of the higher UEFA coefficient. Some Euro teams get a bunch of very easy games in Euro and WC qualifying, while the US very rarely plays true minnows in CONCACAF.
True although we will be playing the winner of St. Vincent & the Grenadines v. Aruba (twice) in the next WC qualifying group.
But because they’re CONCACAF minnows, and not UEFA minnows, it will likely hurt the US in the FIFA rankings.
Playing minnows from anywhere in friendlies won’t help. Beating Germany and the Dutch didn’t really do much.
Friendlies matter very little that’s why we didn’t receive a bump from beating Germany and Netherlands, they need to be competitions. Beat San Marino in a Euro Qualifier positive, beat them in friendly not so much. Wales beat Belgium in a Euro Qualifier this Summer that’s why they catapulted up the rankings, and winning today at Cyprus will keep them there or raise them if they beat Israel this weekend. Chile moves up because of Copa America. The US moves up because it won three games at the Gold Cup, tragedy for fans, great showing for the computer. The US probably would gain spots if it drops three group stage games at next years Copa, if it happens. By the way look out next month for Iceland.
In FIFA’s system, you get no points at all for a loss, no matter what the opponent or situation. So, no, if we lose three and out at the Copa we will not gain anything.
Pirithous – You are correct they did take out the “good loss” points about 10 years ago, now the only way to gain from a loss is a penalty shootout which wouldn’t apply to my group stage example. How about 3 draws and out?
I swear, Ives posts these rankings just to get people riled up…
Mexico is a mortal lock to finish in the top 16 of the next World Cup.
US too.
Costa Rico did ok last time around..
But none of them will ever be in the top 16 of this for more than a blip after finishing better than the teams ranked higher next World Cup.
England’s 10th again!
Portugal back where they belong! (and where they will never finish in the World Cup)
To me, the biggest jokes are Wales and Romania. Romania has qualified for one major tournament since 2000, Wales hasn’t qualified for any since 1958. Sure, they’re off to nice starts in Euro 2016 qualifying but top 10 in the world?!
These ratings are worthless but since they’re used for WC seeding purposes, they can’t be ignored.
Althought, to be honest, there’s virtually no chance of the U.S. getting seeded, given how screwed up the ratings system is.
These rankings are even more nonsensical than usual, and that’s saying a lot.
There be Wales here…