Canada moves up to 33rd in FIFA rankings, sets new national team record
Canada's men's soccer team climbed to a new all-time high on Thursday, jumping seven places to No. 33 in the FIFA rankings after recording massive wins over Honduras, the United States, and El Salvador in the latest round of World Cup qualifying.
A draw against Costa Rica on March 24 would send Canada to its first World Cup since 1986.
The national team has steadily moved up the rankings since advancing to the final round of qualifying in the CONCACAF region. In December, Canada jumped from 48th to 40th, tying its previous best set in 1996.
Despite consolidating first place in its group with a trio of 2-0 victories, Canada remains the third-highest-ranked team from North America, trailing Mexico and the U.S.
CONCACAF rankings
| World Ranking | Country | Last Position (+/-) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Mexico | 14 (+2) |
| 13 | United States | 11 (-2) |
| 33 | Canada | 40 (+7) |
| 42 | Costa Rica | 49 (+7) |
| 62 | Jamaica | 57 (-5) |
| 63 | Panama | 63 |
| 70 | El Salvador | 70 |
| 78 | Honduras | 76 (-2) |
John Herdman's side landed its biggest win to date in the bitter cold on Jan. 30 against the United States, scoring early and late in Hamilton, Ontario, to cement its first win over the Americans in World Cup qualifying since 1980. Striker Cyle Larin collected his 23rd goal to surpass Dwayne De Rosario as the men's team's all-time leading scorer.
Canada sits atop the CONCACAF standings with seven wins and four draws and holds a four-point lead over the second-placed U.S. with three qualifiers remaining.