Canadian men fall 2 places to 29th in FIFA world rankings, overtaken by Nigeria and Algeria

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The Canadian men have dropped two places to No. 29 in the latest FIFA rankings, despite not playing a Tier 1 international since the last ratings were released.

Morocco inside top 10 for first time since 1998 and Senegal jumps 7 spots to 12th

Neil Davidson · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Jan 19, 2026 5:45 PM EST | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

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Canadian soccer player Tiago Coimbra and José Pinto of Guatemala run for the ball in the second half of a B international friendly at BMO Stadium on January 17, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
The Canadian men's soccer team's only action since the previous FIFA world rankings on Dec. 19 was Saturday's 1-0 win over Guatemala in a B international in Los Angeles, pictured. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Canadian men have dropped two places to No. 29 in the latest FIFA rankings, despite not playing a Tier 1 international since the last ratings were released.

Canada was overtaken by Nigeria (No. 26, up 12 places) and Algeria (28th, up six) after their performances at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Nigeria, which finished third, and Cameroon (45th, up 12), which lost to eventual runner-up Morocco in the quarterfinals, were the biggest movers in the new rankings.

The Canadian men's only action since the last ratings came out Dec. 19 was a 1-0 win Saturday over Guatemala in a B international in Los Angeles, which did not count in the FIFA rankings. Guatemala remained unchanged at No. 94.

There were no changes in the rankings' top seven with Spain ahead of Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal and the Netherlands. Morocco returned to the top 10 for the first time since April 1998, climbing three places to an all-time-high of No. 8. Belgium, Germany and Croatia each slipped on spot to No. 9, 10 and 11, respectively.

AFCON winner Senegal climbed seven places to No. 12 while No. 107 Equatorial Guinea, down 10 places, suffered the biggest fall.

Semifinalists Egypt (31st, up four), former champion Ivory Coast (37th, up five) and Congo DR (48th, up eight) all made moves in the wake of the African championship.

WATCH | Jacen Russell-Rowe lifts Canada over Guatemala on Saturday:

Lone goal by Canada's Russell-Rowe holds up as Canada defeats Guatemala in friendly

Jacen Russell-Rowe scored off a beautiful setup by Malik Henry to give Canada a 1-0 victory over Guatemala in a international friendly Saturday in Los Angeles.

The top five CONCACAF teams all fell down the rankings with the U.S. and Mexico each slipping one spot to No. 15 and No. 16, respectively. Panama (33rd, down three) and Costa Rica (51st, down two) were below Canada.

Uzbekistan, Canada's opponent in a June 1 friendly in Edmonton, dropped two places to No. 52.

Reports have pegged No. 47 Tunisia (down six) and No. 74 Iceland (unchanged) as Canada's dates in the March international window.

Canada will face No. 18 Switzerland (down one) and No. 56 Qatar (down two places) in Group B play at this summer's World Cup. Canada's group will be completed by the winner of a European playoff featuring No. 13 Italy (down one), No. 35 Wales (down three), No. 69 Northern Ireland (unchanged) and No. 71 Bosnia and Herzegovina (unchanged).

Canada's highest-ever ranking of No. 26, was achieved in September. The Canadians ranked as low as No. 122 in August and September 2014.

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