Key Takeaways
- The Canadian men’s national team will finish the year at No. 27 in the FIFA world rankings, their highest-ever year-end position.
- Canada will face Switzerland and Qatar in Group B play at next year’s World Cup, with the winner of a European playoff completing the group.
- The top 10 teams in the FIFA rankings remain largely unchanged, with Spain leading the pack ahead of Argentina, France, England, and Brazil.
- Kosovo is the biggest mover of the year, improving 19 places to finish at No. 80.
- Canada remains third in North and Central America and the Caribbean, above Panama.
Introduction to the FIFA Rankings
The Canadian men’s national team will finish the year unchanged at No. 27 in the FIFA world rankings. While this is not their highest-ever ranking, having reached No. 26 in September, it marks the highest-ever year-end position for the team. The Canadians have shown significant improvement in recent years, finishing 2024 at No. 31, 2023 at No. 48, 2022 at No. 53, 2021 at No. 40, and 2020 at No. 72. This progress is a testament to the team’s hard work and dedication, and they will look to build on this momentum in the coming year.
Upcoming World Cup Matches
Canada will face stiff competition in the upcoming World Cup, having been drawn into Group B alongside No. 17 Switzerland and No. 54 Qatar. The group will be completed by the winner of a European playoff featuring No. 12 Italy, No. 32 Wales, No. 69 Northern Ireland, and No. 71 Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Canadians will need to be at the top of their game if they hope to advance from the group stage, but they will be buoyed by their strong year-end ranking. With a solid team and a bit of luck, Canada could potentially cause some upsets in the tournament.
The Latest FIFA Rankings
The latest FIFA rankings have seen little movement, with only 42 international fixtures taking place in the latest ranking period compared to 149 games in the November rankings period. The top 33 teams remain unchanged, with Algeria moving up to No. 34 and swapping places with Egypt. The top 10 teams are also largely unchanged, with Spain leading the pack ahead of Argentina, France, England, and Brazil. Morocco, the winner of the FIFA Arab Cup, stands at No. 11, just shy of breaking into the top 10 for the first time since April 1998. The lack of movement in the rankings is not surprising, given the relatively small number of games played in the latest period.
Notable Movers in the Rankings
Kosovo is the biggest mover of the year, finishing 2025 at No. 80 – an improvement of 19 places from the 2024 year-end. Kosovo went 7-1-2 in 2025, a impressive record that has seen them leapfrog several teams in the rankings. No. 29 Norway and No. 123 Suriname have also climbed 15 places since the December 2024 rankings, highlighting the unpredictability of international football. Jordan, which lost 3-2 to Morocco after extra time in the Arab Cup final, moves up two spots to No. 64, while No. 107 Vietnam and No. 148 Singapore each climb three places. These movements demonstrate that teams are constantly evolving and improving, and that the FIFA rankings are always subject to change.
North American Teams in the Rankings
The other World Cup co-hosts, the U.S. and Mexico, remain unchanged at No. 14 and No. 15 respectively. Canada remains third in North and Central America and the Caribbean, above No. 30 Panama. This is a testament to the strength of football in the region, with several teams competing at a high level. The U.S. and Mexico will be looking to make a strong impression at the World Cup, and Canada will be hoping to join them in the latter stages of the tournament. With the World Cup just around the corner, the stage is set for an exciting and unpredictable tournament.
