On Thursday, FIFA announced their most recent world rankings, which clearly reflect the fallout from the 2024 Copa America, when the USMNT failed to impress. The United States National Soccer team’s ranking fell to 16th; this is the worst showing since October 2022, after having been ranked 11th. This decline was the latest in a string of bad showings in the group stage of the Copa America; it included eventual tournament semifinalists Uruguay, Bolivia, and Panama.
Entering the tournament with high hopes, the USMNT‘s campaign started on a hopeful note with a 2-0 victory over Bolivia. However, the team’s momentum quickly dissipated as they suffered back-to-back defeats: a 5-1 thrashing by Colombia in pre-tournament friendlies, followed by losses to Panama and Uruguay during the group stage. These results led to their early exit from the tournament, a significant blow considering the competition was held on home soil.
The losses to Panama and Uruguay were particularly damaging. The defeat to Panama ranked 43rd in the world, was especially detrimental to the Stars and Stripes’ standing. Panama’s strong performance in the tournament allowed them to climb eight spots to 35th in the FIFA rankings. Similarly, Canada, under the management of American coach Jesse Marsch, also jumped eight places to 40th after a historic run to the semifinals.
How did it impact FIFA rankings?
The USMNT’s group stage exit resulted in a 34.77-point reduction in their FIFA ranking points, the fourth-largest drop among the 210 national teams. FIFA’s ranking system, based on the Elo Model, adjusts points based on various factors including relative team strength, match importance, match results, and expected outcomes. The significant drop for the USMNT underscores the disappointing nature of their Copa America performance.
Uruguay, benefiting from their strong showing, moved up to 11th in the world, taking the spot previously held by the USMNT. This reshuffling…
Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/usnmt-copa-america-stumbles-lead-to-fifa-world-rankings-drop/
Author : Martina Alcheva
Publish date : 2024-07-18 18:37:27
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