After leaping 32 places to 40th in the FIFA rankings in 2021, Canada won the title of “this year’s most improved team”.
The Canadian men were recognized for earning 130.32 points in the FIFA ranking system over the past 12 months, fueled by success in the World Cup qualifiers and for reaching the semi-finals of the Gold Cup.
Canada remains unchanged at 40, its highest position on record, in the December rankings released Thursday. John Herdman’s team had climbed eight places in the November list.
The Canadian men also reached 40th place in December 1996. FIFA, which began ranking in 1992, revamped its ranking formula in 2018.
Canada started the year 72nd but has grown steadily with a 13-2-4 record that saw Herdman’s side dominate the final round of World Cup qualifying. from CONCACAF, which covers North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
Canada’s only losses were against the United States and Mexico in the Gold Cup. The Canadians have dominated their opposition 55-11 this year.
Canada were 94th, sandwiched between Gabon and the Faroe Islands, when Herdman took over as coach in January 2018.
At the time, Canadian men ranked 10th among CONCACAF countries in the FIFA rankings, looking at Mexico, United States, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Panama, Haiti, Honduras, Curacao and Trinidad and Tobago.
Today, they rank third in the region behind the United States (No.11) and Mexico (No.14).
With the schedule hit hard by the pandemic in 2020 – only 352 full internationals have been played, the fewest since 1987 (323 matches) – the football world had a lot to catch up on. According to FIFA, a record 1,116 matches have been played this year.
The top 10 is unchanged,
Belgium finished No. 1 for the fourth consecutive year, ahead of Brazil by just 2.1 points. France is third, followed by England, Argentina, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Winner of the Arab Cup, Algeria has gained three places to climb to 29th place in the new ranking.
There have been 58 games played since the November roster was released. Canada has been inactive during the month, but returns to action in the January-February international window with the World Cup qualifiers against Honduras, the United States and El Salvador.
Italy, European champion (over-115.77 points), Argentina, winner of the Copa America (over-108.51 points) and the Americans, Gold Cup champions (over-103.51 points ), also saw their point totals jump during the year.
Equatorial Guinea (No.114, plus-59.78 points) made the most impressive progress among African teams in 2021, while Saudi Arabia (No.51, plus-81.71 points) opened the way in Asia.
In February 2002, Canada jumped 20 places to 73rd in the standings, thanks to a third place in the Gold Cup.
At the time, it was Canada’s biggest rise in the world of soccer since winning the 2000 Gold Cup, when it climbed 24 spots to place 61 overall.
In June 2007, Canada climbed 38 places, from 94 to 56, as it advanced to the semi-finals of the Gold Cup. It reached No. 52 the following month.
Canada’s lowest ranking ever was 122nd, in August and October 2014.
The Canadians, gold medalists at the recent Olympic Games in Tokyo, are currently ranked sixth by FIFA.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published on December 23, 2021.
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