ZURICH, Switzerland -- The United States dropped one spot to 31st in the FIFA world soccer rankings released Wednesday, matching its low since 1997.
Since the Americans sank to a low of 35th in October 1997, they have been as far down as 31st only four other times: June 1999 and from November 2006 through January 2007. Their highest ranking was sixth in April 2006.
Still, the U.S. team is the highest-ranked in the North and Central American and Caribbean region, one spot above Mexico, which dropped 13 places in one month and reached its lowest level since the rankings began in 1993.
European champion Spain remained first, while Germany moved up one spot into second above World Cup champion Italy. The Netherlands stayed in fourth and Croatia moved up two places to fifth, its highest ranking since reaching the 1998 World Cup semifinal.
Brazil dropped to places to sixth, its lowest level since its worst mark of eighth in August 1993. Argentina fell one spot to seventh, followed by the Czech Republic and Portugal.
Euro 2008 semifinalist Russia moved up one place to 10th, its first appearance in the top 10 since 1997. Romania was 11th and France fell two places to 12th.
