2021 will easily go down as the most successful calendar year in recent memory for the Canadian men’s soccer team. For a team that’s only ever qualified for one World Cup (1986), and whose most recent Olympic success came in 1904, the last 365 days have been nothing short of a revelation on the international soccer front.
Canada jumped 32 places to number 40 in the FIFA rankings this year, making them the most improved team on the men’s side across the globe. Canada added 130.32pts to their FIFA total in 2021 after posting a 13-2-4 record on the year.
While they’ve still got a ways to go if they want to achieve the kind of success the reigning Olympic champion Canadian Women’s side has, their top 40 ranking is a massive improvement from their 94th overall ranking in 2018.
The men’s side now find themselves chasing down Hungary, Scotland, Turkey, and Nigeria in the FIFA rankings (39 through 36th respectively). These represent teams who have achieved a modicum of success on the world stage, as opposed Gabon and the Faroe Islands whom Canada was ranked amongst when manager John Herdman took over the program 3 years ago.
Canada’s lowest ranking came in the fall of 2014 when the men’s side fell all the way to 122nd overall. Their current rank of 40 is tied for the highest FIFA ranking Canada has ever earned, equalling the 1996 Canadian squad who achieved the feat 25 years ago.
Led by world class left back/winger Alphonso Davies from Bayern Munich, the men’s side have outscored their opponents 55-11 in 2021. Their only blemishes came to the US & Mexico in the Gold Cup earlier this year.
Through 8 games in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, Canada stands atop the table with a 4-4-0 record.