The most recent FIFA rankings show that the Canadian men’s national soccer team has slipped two spots to No. 29. This drop occurred despite not participating in a Tier 1 international match since the last rankings were published. Nigeria (No. 26, up 12 places) and Algeria (No. 28, up six spots) surpassed Canada in the rankings following their performances at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Notably, Nigeria finished third in the tournament, while Cameroon (No. 45, up 12) also made significant gains.
Canada’s only recent match was a 1-0 victory over Guatemala in a B international game in Los Angeles, which did not impact their FIFA ranking. Guatemala remains at No. 94 in the rankings. The top seven positions in the rankings remained unchanged, with Spain leading the pack, followed by Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, and the Netherlands. Morocco broke into the top 10, reaching an all-time high of No. 8, while Belgium, Germany, and Croatia each dropped one spot.
Senegal, the winner of AFCON, climbed seven places to No. 12, while Equatorial Guinea experienced the most significant decline, dropping 10 places to No. 107. Egypt, Ivory Coast, and Congo DR also saw positive movements in the rankings following their performances in the African championship.
In the CONCACAF region, the top five teams all saw a decrease in their rankings, with the U.S. and Mexico falling one spot each to No. 15 and No. 16, respectively. Panama (No. 33, down three) and Costa Rica (No. 51, down two) are currently ranked below Canada. Canada’s upcoming opponent in a friendly match on June 1, Uzbekistan, also dropped two places to No. 52.
Looking ahead, reports suggest that Canada will face Tunisia (No. 47, down six) and Iceland (No. 74, unchanged) during the March international window. Additionally, Canada is set to compete against Switzerland (No. 18, down one) and Qatar (No. 56, down two) in Group B at the upcoming World Cup, with the final team in their group to be determined from a European playoff involving Italy, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Canada’s highest-ever FIFA ranking was No. 26, achieved in September. The team has come a long way since ranking as low as No. 122 in August and September 2014.