USMNT fall down FIFA rankings after putrid 2024 Copa America performance

The tremors stemming from the United States men’s national team’s (USMNT) disappointing performance at the 2024 Copa America was reflected in FIFA’s new world rankings, which were released on Thursday.

After failing to advance out of the Copa America group stage, which featured tournament semifinalists Uruguay and minnows Bolivia and Panama, USMNT dropped from No. 11 in the world to No. 16, which is its lowest ranking since October of 2022.

On the heels of a less-than-impressive build-up to the competition, which included a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Colombia, USMNT defeated Bolivia to start Copa America, which was on home soil, before consecutive losses to Panama and Uruguay.

The results prompted a 34.77-point reduction by FIFA, which was the fourth-largest drop amongst its 210 national teams. FIFA’s rankings are determined by the Elo Model, which adds or subtracts points for matches to or from a team’s existing point total. The adding or subtracting of points is partially predicated on relative team strength, match importance, match result, and the expected match result.

While Uruguay is now 11th in the world, taking the United States spot, the loss to Panama, which was ranked 43rd in the world, was most damaging. Panama’s surprising showing at Copa America helped move it up eight spots in the world rankings to No. 35 while Canada, managed by American Jesse Marsch, also jumped eight spots to No. 40 after its run to the semifinals.

Gregg Berhalter USMNT — Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

The USMNT’s poor showing cost manager Gregg Berhalter his job, sparking a search by US Soccer to find the right leader for the program less than two years before the start of the 2026 World Cup, which is on home soil.

Other notable results from FIFA’s new rankings include Argentina strengthening its hold on the No. 1 spot after winning a second-straight Copa America, Spain jumping to No. 3 after winning Euro 2024, and Colombia moving into the top 10.