Canada makes jump on FIFA rankings

Canada picked up 30 points and jumped 11 spots on the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking published 23 November 2011. The Canadian team extended its eight-match unbeaten streak with a draw and a win in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Canada was ranked eighth within CONCACAF and 72nd overall in the monthly ranking.

The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking looks at each country’s international results from the last four years. The ranking takes into account the result, the importance of the match, the strength of the opponent, the regional strength, the time period, and the number of matches per year. Matches played more than a year ago are valued 50% of matches played in the last year; matches played more than two years ago are valued at 30% while matches played more than three years ago are valued at 20%.

Canada played back-to-back matches against St. Kitts and Nevis, posting a 0:0 away draw and a 4:0 home victory on 11 and 15 November, respectively. After eliminating St. Kitts and Nevis with the draw, Canada pleased its home crowd with a four-goal outburst at BMO Field in Toronto.

Amongst CONCACAF nations, there was no change to the top six, with Mexico, USA, Jamaica, Panama, Honduras and Costa Rica leading the way in points. El Salvador, Canada, Haiti all moved up in CONCACAF while Antigua and Barbuda gained points, but remained steady at 10th in the region. Trinidad and Tobago was the one nation that fell out of the CONCACAF top-10.

Over the past month, 131 international “A” matches were played around the world, of which 72 were FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, eight were EURO 2012 qualifiers, and the remaining 51 were friendly matches.