U.S. climbs six spots to No. 22 in FIFA world rankings

SAN DIEGO -- Riding a five-game unbeaten streak in World Cup qualifying -- including successive victories over Jamaica, Panama and Honduras last month -- the U.S. national soccer team jumped six spots, to 22nd in the world, in the latest FIFA rankings released Thursday.

That’s the highest ranking for the U.S. in more than two years and one the Americans will put on the line Friday night against Guatemala in a tuneup match for next week’s Gold Cup tournament.

The biggest mover among top teams was Brazil, which jumped 13 spots to ninth overall after routing Spain, 3-0, in last week’s Confederations Cup final.

Spain, however, remains No. 1 in the world followed by Germany and Colombia.

Mexico, which has struggled in World Cup qualifying and did not show well in the Confederations Cup, dropped three places to 20th overall.

England fell eight spots to No. 15.

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