Canada are up two places to No. 41 in the last FIFA World Rankings update before the 2022 World Cup begins in November, the international governing body announced Thursday.
The update comes as head coach John Herdman’s team emerges from a mixed bag of tune-up friendlies in Europe last month, beating Qatar 2-0 and losing to Uruguay 2-0 before Group F play begins this fall.
Les Rouges, back in their first World Cup since 1986, will also face Japan on Nov. 17 in Dubai in a final preparation match before their 36-year absence officially ends.
Group F
The CanMNT’s group in Qatar contains three teams in the top 25. Below, we’ve also included their movement from FIFA’s August update.
- Belgium: 2 (no change)
- Croatia: 12 (up 3)
- Morocco: 22 (up 1)
- Canada: 41 (up 2)
In Qatar, Canada’s schedule is as follows and the top two teams will advance to the knockout rounds.
- Nov. 23 vs. Belgium (2 pm ET)
- Nov. 27 vs. Croatia (11 am ET)
- Dec. 1 vs. Morocco (10 am ET)
To reach the World Cup, Canada placed first in Concacaf’s qualification pathway. However, the FIFA World Rankings have Mexico (13th), the United States (16th) and Costa Rica (31st) all ahead of them to round out the region's World Cup-bound quartet.
Canada are benefitting from a golden generation of sorts, one that’s spearheaded by Vancouver Whitecaps FC academy product and current Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies. Other standouts are Porto midfielder Stephen Eustáquio, Club Brugge winger Tajon Buchanan and Lille forward Jonathan David.
