Spain have strengthened their grip atop the FIFA men's world rankings following the October international window, with the three North American World Cup co-hosts having mixed fortunes. The USMNT remained No. 16 and Mexico held steady at No. 14, while Canada dropped two positions to 28th in the latest rankings by football's governing body.

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    Three North American teams

    The USMNT remained No. 16 in the October FIFA rankings after a 1-1 draw with Ecuador and a 2-1 win over Australia. Fellow World Cup 2026 co-hosts experienced mixed fortunes, with Mexico maintaining its position as the highest-ranked CONCACAF nation at 14th, while Canada has dropped two spots to 28th after losing to Australia and playing Colombia to a 0-0 draw.

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  • USMNT's challenging November tests

    The USMNT will face two significant tests in the November international window as they prepare fornext summer's World Cup. Mauricio Pochettino's squad will take on Paraguay, who dropped two spots to 39th in the latest rankings, before facing No. 15 Uruguay. three days later.

    These matches represent crucial opportunities for American players to stake their claims for roster spots with just months remaining before the tournament.

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    The top 10 teams in FIFA rankings

    1. Spain
    2. Argentina
    3. France
    4. England
    5. Portugal
    6. Netherlands
    7. Brazil
    8. Belgium
    9. Italy
    10. Germany

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    World Cup seeding implications take shape

    With the 2026 World Cup draw scheduled for Dec. 5th, the November rankings will take on added significance as teams jockey for seeded positions. As co-hosts, the United States, Mexico, and Canada will automatically be placed in Pot 1 for the draw, regardless of their ranking positions.