In the first post-World Cup edition of the FIFA World Rankings, champions Germany ascended to the top spot, while the US national team dropped two spots to rank 15th in the world.
The US averaged 609 ranking points earned from their four World Cup games, thanks largely to the win over Ghana. The FIFA World Rankings are calculated by combining per-game ranking points from the last four calendar years, with results from prior years given less weight than those in 2014.
The FIFA rankings do not differentiate between an extratime loss and a regulation loss, meaning the US Round of 16 defeat to Belgium earned 0 points. The late goal surrendered in the tie against Portugal cost the US 1,473 ranking points, which would have significantly increased their total 2014 per-game average of 554.94.
Big movers from June's rankings included the Netherlands (No. 3) and Costa Rica (No. 16), who both moved up 12 spots after strong World Cup performances. No. 4 Colombia (+4) and No. 5 Belgium (+6) also made big moves.
Tumbling in the rankings were No. 8 Spain and No. 11 Portugal, both down seven spots, but No. 20 England had it worst among the big nations, dropping 10 spots.
Rival Mexico moved up two spots to 18th after their own Round of 16 exit in the World Cup, while Honduras dropped seven spots to No. 40 after going 0-3 in Brazil.
Upcoming US opponents did not move much in the rankings, with the Czech Republic dropping one rank to 35th and reported November opponent Republic of Ireland holding steady at No. 70.
