U.S. moves to No. 13 in FIFA global rankings
The U.S. moved up six spots, to No. 13, in September’s FIFA world rankings, the highest the national team has been since July 2010.
Mexico, meanwhile, fell out of the top 20 for the first time in a year following World Cup qualifying losses to Honduras and the U.S.
Despite the huge jump -- the best among teams now in the top 20 -- the U.S. is still six places short of what it may need to get a group seeding in next summer’s World Cup in Brazil. FIFA used the world rankings to determine seedings in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, giving one to each of the top seven teams with the final one going to host South Africa.
The draw for the World Cup will take place Dec. 6 in Brazil.
Spain remained No. 1 in the rankings with Argentina jumping two spots to No. 2. Germany fell to third ahead of Italy and Colombia. Belgium, Uruguay, Brazil, the Netherlands and Croatia round out the top 10.
Uruguay was the biggest mover in the top 10, jumping up five spots to seventh.
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