The biennial CONCACAF Gold Cup convenes this summer in the United States to determine the champion of the North and Central American soccer confederation.
Staged largely on the west coast of the country, with the FIFA Club World Cup to be held simultaneously on the eastern half of the nation, the Gold Cup will look to crown the next champion of the region.
The United States and Mexico have dominated this competition throughout its history, having won 16 of the 17 Gold Cup titles, with Canada winning the other.
The Sporting News brings you a look at what nations are participating in this year’s competition and where they rank in the global football scene.
MORE: Breaking down the USMNT roster for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup
FIFA Rankings for all 2025 Gold Cup nations: Highest, lowest-ranked
Hosts United States are the highest-ranked participant in the 2025 Gold Cup, but the positioning is close. Mexico, the defending champions of the competition, are right on their heels one spot behind.
Canada rank third, as they continue to shoot up the list with their growth in the recent past. In the last five years, Canada have gone from 73rd to 30th, their highest-ever spot on the list since the rankings began in late 1992.
The Dominican Republic, having qualified for their first Gold Cup appearance in history, are the lowest-ranked side in the field, 139th in the world, two spots below Suriname.
FIFA Rankings for Gold Cup 2025 participants
| Nation | FIFA rank | Best Gold Cup result |
| USA | 16th | Won title (7x, last 2021) |
| Mexico | 17th | Won title (9x, last 2023) |
| Canada | 30th | Won title (2000) |
| Panama | 33rd | Runners-up (3x, last 2023) |
| Costa Rica | 54th | Runners-up (2002) |
| Saudi Arabia* | 58th | None (First appearance) |
| Jamaica | 63rd | Runners-up (2x, last 2017) |
| Honduras | 75th | Runners-up (1991) |
| El Salvador | 81st | Fourth place (2x, last 1985) |
| Haiti | 83rd | Semifinals (2019) |
| Curacao** | 90th | Third place (2x, last 1969) |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 100th | Semifinals (2000) |
| Guatemala | 106th | Fourth place (1996) |
| Suriname | 137th | Group stage (2021) |
| Dominican Rep. | 139th | None (First appearance) |
* Guest participant
** Competed as Netherlands Antilles from 1963-2009
How are FIFA rankings calculated?
FIFA rankings have existed since 1992 and use a points-scoring system to work out standings.
The method by which FIFA calculates these rankings was officially changed in August 2018. The current system works by adding or subtracting points from a team’s previous total based on results rather than using an average number of points earned over a certain period.
The points added or taken away also depends on the quality of opponent a team faces. For example, beating one of the top-10-ranked nations in the world will earn you more points than defeating a side ranked outside the top 100. The expected result of the game will also impact the number of points gained.
The competition in which each match is played is also taken into account. For example, winning a World Cup fixture will result in more points than winning a friendly against the same opposition and by the same scoreline.
Matches decided by penalty shootouts are a factor as well: losing teams get the same points as they would for a draw, while the winners only get points equivalent to half a win.
Losing knockout-round matches of final competitions also won’t result in teams losing any points.
Here’s a calculation example provided by FIFA:
- Team A has 1300 points before the match and wins a continental qualifier against team B that has 1500 points
- For team A the formula is: P=1300+25*(1–(1/(10 exp (-(1300–1500)/600) +1)))
- For team B the formula is: P = 1500 + 25 * (0- (1 / (10 exp (-(1500-1300)/600) + 1)))
- Thus, team A wins 17 points and has P = 1317 points after the match
- Team B loses the same amount of points and thus ends up with 1483 points after the match
When are FIFA rankings updated?
FIFA rankings are updated after the international windows in which national-team matches are played. That usually results in several rankings updates over the course of the year.
The next will be on July 10, after both the latest FIFA window and the conclusion of the 2025 Gold Cup.
USMNT opponents in the Gold Cup
Group Stage
- Sun, Jun. 15: USA vs. Trinidad & Tobago (FIFA rank 100)
- Thu, Jun. 19: USA vs. Saudi Arabia (FIFA rank 58)
- Sun, Jun. 22: USA vs. Haiti (FIFA rank 83)
