If being ranked 112th in the world by FIFA wasn’t bad enough to end 2014, how about being ranked 117th to kickoff the 2015 rankings? That is the current situation the Canadian Men’s National Team find themselves in as head coach, Benito Floro seeks desperately to help the country become relevant in international soccer again.
Before the next World Cup kicks off in Russia, it’ll have been 32 years since Canada qualified for the biggest international sporting event on the planet. While 117th is not the worst Canada has been ranked in recent times, it is still very low and not something the country will be very proud of. They were all the way down to 122nd in October, but under the guidance of Floro were able to make some progress.
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Despite the poor FIFA ranking, things are currently looking up for the country as they turn to the future to fix the problems of their past. Last month for the first time in history, a Canadian was selected first overall in the MLS SuperDraft when Orlando City decided to take forward, Cyle Larin.
All three Canadian Major League Soccer sides have set up USL clubs that will begin play in 2015. The expansion of professional soccer in Canada will only help the country develop talent and provide more options for youngsters growing up in the Great White North.
The slip in the FIFA rankings comes on the back of two games against Iceland in Florida last month. Canada drew one game with the 37th ranked country in the world and lost the other. Currently the national team is in the middle of negotations to try and arrange a couple of matches during the FIFA international match days in March.