FIFA has released its latest world rankings, sparking questions about whether the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) and its star player, Christian Pulisic, have taken a hit following a disappointing CONCACAF Nations League campaign. After suffering two consecutive defeats in March, many wondered if these losses would see the United States drop from its spot in the top 20.
Surprisingly, the latest rankings tell a different story.
Despite back-to-back losses to Panama (1-0 in the semifinals) and Canada (2-1 in the third-place match), the USMNT has remained ranked 16th in the world in FIFA’s April rankings update.
This might come as a shock to some fans, considering it was the first time since 2019 that the U.S. had lost consecutive matches to CONCACAF opposition. However, FIFA’s ranking system, which was revised in 2018 to an ELO-style formula, played a crucial role in preventing a drop in rankings.
The formula does not significantly penalize teams for losses in knockout rounds of official tournaments, treating them as neutral results instead of outright defeats. This approach spared the Stars and Stripes from losing points despite their Nations League disappointment, allowing them to maintain their place as the highest-ranked team in CONCACAF.
Staying ahead of Mexico—For now
Although the U.S. managed to hold its position at 16th, the competition within CONCACAF remains fierce. Mexico, which won the CONCACAF Nations League for the first time, has climbed one spot to 17th, closing the gap on its regional rivals.
Other CONCACAF teams also saw movement, as Canada moved up to 30th (+3 spots) after their third-place finish. Meanwhile, Panama climbed to 33rd (+3 spots), thanks to their semifinal win over the U.S, Costa Rica remained 54th, showing no change, and Jamaica (63rd) rounds out CONCACAF’s top six nations.
What’s next for the USMNT?
Mauricio Pochettino will have opportunities to improve the team’s ranking in the coming months. Their next test comes in June, when they host 27th-ranked Turkey and 20th-ranked Switzerland in friendly matches.
Beyond those fixtures, all eyes will be on the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which will serve as a crucial competition in the lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the U.S. will be co-hosts alongside Mexico and Canada.
With three host nations competing for a coveted seeded position in the World Cup draw, the USMNT must ensure they remain within the top nine teams globally to maximize their chances of a favorable group-stage placement.
