Now that the Round of 16 is over at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Team USA’s final ranking is locked in.
Head coach Gregg Berhalter’s squad finished 14th out of 32 participants in Qatar, bowing out at the same knockout round phase as their past three participations.
Here’s how they’ve fared in modern-era World Cups over the past few decades.
Year | Ranking | Round | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
2022 (Qatar) | 14th | Round of 16 | 1W-1L-2D |
2018 (Russia) | N/A | Didn't qualify | N/A |
2014 (Brazil) | 15th | Round of 16 | 1W-2L-1D |
2010 (South Africa) | 12th | Round of 16 | 1W-1L-2D |
2006 (Germany) | 25th | Group stage | 0W-2L-1D |
2002 (Japan/South Korea) | 8th | Quarterfinals | 2W-2L-1D |
1998 (France) | 32nd | Group stage | 0W-3L-0D |
1994 (USA) | 14th | Round of 16 | 1W-2L-1D |
1990 (Italy) | 23rd | Group stage | 0W-3L-0D |
How are the rankings determined?
The final World Cup rankings are determined by what stage of the tournament a team reaches. Within each tier, teams are then ranked by their record.
The USMNT were the sixth-best of the eight Round of 16 losers. That was determined after going 1W-1L-2D overall with a -1 goal differential, all from the following results:
- Group B: 1-1 draw vs. Wales
- Group B: 0-0 draw vs. England
- Group B: 1-0 win vs. Iran
- Round of 16: 3-1 loss vs. Netherlands
The Yanks entered the World Cup at No. 16 in the FIFA World Rankings, so their final place – once in Qatar – was virtually in lockstep there.
What’s next?
The USMNT are expected to auto-qualify for the 2026 World Cup, an expanded 48-team tournament that will be co-hosted across the US, Canada and Mexico.
In the absence of World Cup qualifiers, the biannual Concacaf Nations League and Concacaf Gold Cup are currently the only competitive games on the calendar.
After bringing the second-youngest squad to Qatar, additional competitions are a must.
