The Canadian men’s soccer team has moved up to No. 48 on FIFA’s latest rankings, closing in on its all-time high of 40th overall, reached back in 1996.
This marks the first time since 1997’s peak of 46th overall that the men’s team has cracked FIFA’s top 50, continuing the upwards momentum brought on by the success Canada’s seen so far in its World Cup qualifying bid.
In September, the men’s team reached its previous best of 2021, when it jumped eight spots to reach No. 51 on the list.
The rankings are devised adding or subtracting points from a team’s previous point totals after it wins or loses a game. FIFA determines how many points are gained or removed, in part, by an assessment of the relative strength of the two opponents, rooted in the expectation that teams higher in the ranking should fare better against teams lower in the ranking.
Canada’s ascent was spurred by tying Honduras and the United States, and beating El Savador in the first three games of the final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. The climb into the top 50 comes after a vital 4-1 win over Panama earlier in October.
The Canadian women’s team, which has been a stable fixture in FIFA’s top 10 for over a decade now, climbed from eighth to sixth overall when the rankings were last updated in August.
Sitting atop the men’s side is Belgium, which has been FIFA’s highest-ranked men’s team for three years now.
France, coming off a Nations League title, moved into No. 3. Brazil sits at No. 2.
Euro 2020 champion Italy rose one place to No. 4 and England dropped two to No. 5.
The rankings are likely to come into play when FIFA makes the seedings for the next World Cup draw. It is set for April 1 in Doha, Qatar.
The Canadian men’s team next plays on Nov. 12 against Costa Rica, which is ranked 45th in the world.
Canadian men’s team moves up to 48th on FIFA rankings, closing in on all-time high
Source: Pinas Ko Mahal
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