Canadian men move up 10 spots in FIFA rankings since last World Cup
The Canadian men’s soccer team is steadily climbing up the ranks.
Over the past month, the squad led by head coach John Herdman achieved a record of two wins, two draws, and two losses over six matches, allowing them to move up two spots to No. 43 in the global FIFA ranking.
However, a pair of pivotal losses to the 11th-ranked US team hurt them dearly, with the Americans defeating Canada 2-0 in the CONCACAF Nations League final and edging them out 3-2 in a penalty shootout during the Gold Cup quarterfinal.
Nonetheless, Canada, who went winless in the 2022 World Cup, played well enough to move into third place among CONCACAF teams, surpassing Costa Rica in the process.
In a recent interview with Daily Hive, Canadian defender Kamal Miller said he is expecting a better result for his country in the next World Cup, which will be played partly on home soil.
“I think in 2026, we want nothing less than to make a massive statement. And for me, that massive statement is getting to a semi-final, at least,” Miller said. “There’s been teams in this tournament who’ve done it before. South Korea did it on home soil, so why can’t we? That’s the way we look at it.”
Miller believes that the maturation of Canada’s young roster could be a difference-maker in their next FIFA tournament.
“We were so close in all three games in the last tournament, and that really leaves a bitter taste in our mouth,” he added. “We feel like we’ve learned those lessons and by the time 2026 gets here, a lot of our players who were young and naïve in Qatar are going to be in their prime.”
Following their three losses at the 2022 World Cup, Canada saw a 12-point drop in the global rankings, moving from the 41st to the 53rd spot. The country’s highest-ever ranking was No. 33, reached in February 2022.
According to FIFA, the updated top 10 rankings are as follows:
- Argentina
- France
- Brazil
- England
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Netherlands
- Italy
- Portugal
- Spain
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