FIFA rankings 2021: USMNT reach top 10 for first time in 15 years after Gold Cup, Nations League titles

Gold Cup and Nations League winners USA have reached their highest ranking since May 2006

By James Benge

Aug 12, 2021 at 11:54 am ET • 1 min read

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The United States men's national team have reached the top 10 in the FIFA world rankings for the first time since 2006 after a silverware laden summer for Gregg Berhalter's side.

Having won the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup this summer (with largely different squads for both competitions), the U.S. jumped up 10 positions in the rankings, reaching 10th position. Not since May 2006 when they were rated the fifth best team in world football have the USMNT sat in such a lofty ranking.

Despite losing both finals to the U.S., Mexico sit one place above their neighbors in a top 10 -- though their lead has narrowed from 75 points in May to just 10 -- that is otherwise made up of representatives from South America and Europe. Belgium continue to lead the way ahead of Brazil and France with Euro 2020 finalists England and winners Italy rounding out the top five.

Though FIFA's rankings rarely paint an entirely true picture of the best teams in international football, a move into the top 10 is a welcome fillip for Berhalter's youthful squad before they begin their qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup -- you can watch away games on Paramount+. It also has a more tangible benefit for any U.S. internationals hoping to move to the Premier League in the coming weeks.

Post-Brexit work permit regulations in the English game mean that any player who has played in 30 percent or more of international games for a top 10 FIFA-ranked team over the past year is guaranteed to receive a work permit. Indeed, anyone with so much as one game under Berhalter in the last 12 months would have eight of the 15 points they require to make the switch.