The latest FIFA men’s world rankings were released after the Copa America and the European Championships. There were some notable ups and downs as the US national team paid the price of elimination in the group stage this summer.

The managerless U.S. men’s national team has dropped five spots in the latest rankings, from 11th to 16th. Gregg Berhalter was fired after the U.S. national team was eliminated in the group stage of the 2024 Copa America on home soil, losing to both Uruguay and Panama and beating Bolivia to earn just three points.

It is the US national team’s lowest ranking since October 2022, while their highest ever ranking was 4th place in April 2006.

Who made big moves, up and down?

Big climbers are Spain, who won EURO 2024 and climbed five places in the rankings to third. Argentina, the current champions of the World Cup and the Copa America (back-to-back), remain in first place. France remain in second place and England climb one place to fourth after reaching back-to-back European Championship finals.

Brazil dropped one place to fifth, Belgium dropped three places to sixth and the Netherlands remained stable in seventh after reaching the semi-finals of EURO 2024. Portugal dropped two places to eighth and Colombia rose three places to ninth as they finished runners-up at the Copa America and impressed throughout. Italy remained stable in tenth to round out the top 10, while Uruguay, Germany and Switzerland all moved closer to the top 10 after impressive tournaments.

Other notable rises include: Turkey jumped 16 places to 26th after reaching the semi-finals of EURO 2024 within minutes. Venezuela rose from 17th to 37th after reaching the quarter-finals of the Copa America, while Canada climbed eight places to 40th after Jesse Marsch’s team unexpectedly reached the semi-finals of the Copa America.

Can the US national team bounce back over the next two years?

The US national team suffered the biggest drop of any team in the top 40 of the FIFA rankings, and rightfully so.

This summer was supposed to be the breakthrough moment and prove they can compete with the big boys. The opposite happened and now the USMNT is looking for a new head coach, direction and trying to rejuvenate the squad, less than two years before a World Cup on home soil.

Friendlies against Canada, New Zealand and Panama in September and October will make no difference. The next time the U.S. national team can really perform at a high level will be in the summer of 2025 at the Gold Cup.

That’s a long time for this young group to dwell on a disappointing summer that was filled with turmoil and schedule changes.

Latest FIFA Men’s World Rankings, Top 25 – July 18, 2024

1. Argentina – Even
2. France – Even
3. Spain – Up 5
4. England – Up 1
5. Brazil – 1 point behind
6. Belgium – 3 points behind
7. Netherlands – Even
8. Portugal – 2 points lower
9. Colombia – Up 3
10. Italy
11. Uruguay – 3 up
12. Croatia – 3 points lower
13. Germany – Up 3
14. Morocco – 2 points lower
15. Switzerland – Up 5
16. US – Down 5 points
17. Mexico – 2 points lower
18. Japan – Down 1
19. Senegal – 1 point behind
20. Iran – Even
21. Denmark – Even
22. Austria – Up 3
23. South Korea – Down 1 point
24. Australia – Down 1 point
25. Ukraine – 1 point behind