TT f/ballers drop in FIFA rankings

ZURICH: Haiti and lowly rated Bermuda have climbed eight notches to become the two biggest Caribbean movers in the March edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings released yesterday. Haiti hugs 86th in the world which makes them the fourth-best team in the Caribbean Football Union and Bermuda hold down 171st in the world to be the 12th best in the CFU. The top five positions in the CFU continue to be occupied by Jamaica (48th, no change), Trinidad and Tobago (69th, down one), Cuba (76th, down two), Haiti and Barbados (113, down two). In the CONCACAF region, the top three also remain the same. Mexico are number one (5th, no change), United States are second (12th, down one) and Costa Rica are third (18th, no change) with Jamaica and Honduras (50th, no change) completing the top five.

On the global stage, there is no change at the top as the leading six nations, headed by Brazil, remain unaltered. Long-time trail-blazers Germany (10th, up two) are back in the top ten having fallen from grace in December last year. Czech Republic and England consolidate their top ten berths, moving into a three-way sixth-spot tie with Argentina. In the top 50, Iran show how it is done as they move up seven slots to claim their best ever ranking, taking 24th place. Undoubtedly helpful in this endeavour was their 3-1 win over Qatar in the FIFA World Cup qualifying match on February 18.

CFU rankings (World ranking in brackets): 1. Jamaica (48); 2. Trinidad and Tobago (69); 3. Cuba (76); 4. Haiti (86); 5. Barbados (113); 6. St. Lucia (125); 7. St. Kitts/Nevis (130); 8. Grenada (151); 9. Suriname (154); 10. Antigua and Barbuda (162); 11. St. Vincent and the Grenadines (164); 12. Bermuda (171); 13. Dominican Republic (173); 14. British Virgin Islands (174); 15. Dominica (177); 16. Guyana (179); 17. Netherlands Antilles (181); 18. Cayman Islands (184); 19. Bahamas (193); 20. Aruba (195); 21. Anguilla (198); 22. United States Virgin Islands (199); 23. Puerto Rico (200); 24. Turks and Caicos Islands (201); 25. Montserrat (204). (CMC)