The exciting performance of the U.S. national men's soccer team at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil failed to translate into gains in the latest world rankings released Thursday by FIFA.
The United States, which advanced from a difficult first-round group before losing to Belgium in the Round of 16, dropped two places to No. 15. Although the U.S. team opened with a thrilling 2-1 win against Ghana on a late goal by John Brooks, it then tied Portugal, lost to Germany in the final game of the group stage and succumbed to Belgium, 2-1 in extra time.
The often-criticized rankings are based on a points system that takes into account results over a four-year span by averaging the points a team gains from victories during 12 months and the average of results of matches older than one year (with their value declining over time).
Teams accrue points based on whether matches were won or drawn, the importance of each match (full international, friendly or World Cup game) and the strength of the opposing team.
Recently FIFA has used its rankings, which are sponsored by Coca-Cola, to determine how the 32 teams in a World Cup are seeded at the draw. Inconsistent results against often-mediocre regional competitors cost the United States a potential seeding in Brazil, which meant being placed in a more challenging group.
The next draw will be held in December 2017 before the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Germany, which defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time in the final Sunday in Rio de Janeiro, took over the No. 1 spot for the first time in nearly 20 years. Argentina was up three places to No. 2. The Netherlands, which finished third after beating host Brazil in the third-place match, jumped 12 places to No. 3.
Among World Cup participants, the biggest loser was England, which plummeted 10 spots to No. 20, its worst showing in the rankings since May 1996.
The other most precipitous declines were by Spain, the former No. 1 and the 2010 World Cup champion, which failed to advance past the first round in Brazil and is now No. 8, and Portugal, which also dropped seven places, to No. 11.
Brazil fell four spots to No. 7, and Italy dropped five to No. 14. Italy, like England, Portugal and Spain, was eliminated in the group stage.
Belgium and France each gained ground after advancing to the quarterfinals, with Belgium climbing to No. 5 from No. 11 and France moving up seven places to No. 10. Colombia, which lost to Brazil in the quarterfinals, rode the goal-scoring prowess of James RodrÃguez to No. 4, up four places.
And Costa Rica, the lone team from the CONCACAF region to advance past the Round of 16, matched the Netherlands by climbing 12 places to No. 16. Mexico, which again failed to advance past the second round, benefited from a 0-0 tie against Brazil and two victories in the first round to gain two places to No. 18.
FIFA said it took into account results from 111 international matches: 64 World Cup games, 46 friendlies and a regional qualifier.