The Canadian women’s soccer team has experienced another decline in the FIFA rankings, ending the year at No. 10. This follows a series of losses that have seen the team drop consistently throughout the year, from a starting position at No. 6. Despite these setbacks, the team remains focused on improvement under the guidance of head coach Casey Stoney.

A year of challenges for the Canadian women’s team

The Canadian women’s soccer team began the year in a strong position, ranked No. 6 in the world. However, subsequent FIFA rankings released in March, June, and August each saw the team drop one place. This downward trend continued with the end-of-year ranking, which saw Canada drop to No. 10.

This most recent decline is largely due to a series of four straight losses since the last rankings were released. The team was defeated by both No. 25 Switzerland and the 11th-ranked Netherlands in October’s international window. November was no more successful, with the Canadian women losing 3-0 and 1-0 to No. 8 Japan.

Canada closed the year on a five-game losing streak. This included a 454-minute goal drought, which dates back to a 4-1 victory over No. 50 Haiti in June – the team’s last win of the year.

Coach Casey Stoney’s first year

Despite the challenges, the Canadian women went 6-6-1 in their first year under coach Casey Stoney. The team is determined to improve, with assistant coach Natalie Henderson stating: “For the players, we know there are bits we need to get better at, 100 per cent. We all know that. We need to raise our standards on and off the pitch.”

Stoney, a former England international, took over as head coach of the Canadian women’s team in 2021. She was absent during the most recent international window due to a family emergency, with Henderson stepping in to run the team in her absence.

Canada’s history in the FIFA rankings

Canada has maintained a position in the FIFA top 10 since March 2016, finishing 2015 at No. 11. The team has ranked 10th on four occasions since then. The Canadian women’s highest-ever position was No. 4, last held in March 2018. Conversely, the team’s lowest ranking was 13th, a position it held in December 2005, September 2009, and August 2010.

Global shifts in women’s soccer rankings

While Canada has experienced a decline, other countries have seen shifts in their rankings. Spain remains at No. 1 after retaining its UEFA Women’s Nations League title, while the U.S. stays at No. 2. Germany has risen two places to No. 3, pushing Sweden down to No. 5. Brazil has climbed one spot to No. 6, causing France to drop to No. 7. Japan remains unchanged at No. 8, while North Korea has moved ahead of Canada to No. 9.

There have also been significant moves lower down in the rankings. Nicaragua, Burkina Faso, and American Samoa each climbed 16 places, while Mali and Egypt fell six places. Paraguay slipped out of the top 50, and Poland, Venezuela, Cabo Verde, and Saudi Arabia reached all-time highs. Chad and Libya entered the ranking for the first time, bringing the total number of member associations in the women’s standings to a record 198.

Ethan Radcliffe

Ethan Radcliffe is a senior reporter and digital editor at The Toronto Insider, specializing in Canadian federal policy, GTA urban development, and national economic trends. With over a decade of experience in North American journalism, Ethan focuses on translating complex legislative and economic developments into clear, accessible reporting for Canadian readers. Ethan’s work emphasizes policy analysis, government accountability, and data-driven reporting, with a strong focus on how federal and provincial decisions impact communities across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. He has covered infrastructure planning, housing policy, fiscal strategy, and regulatory changes affecting Canadian households and businesses. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Journalism, Ethan brings expertise in investigative reporting, long-form analysis, editorial standards, and digital publishing best practices. His reporting is guided by verifiable sources, public records, and transparent sourcing. In addition to reporting, Ethan has experience in newsroom editing, fact-checking workflows, SEO-informed journalism, and audience analytics, ensuring stories meet both editorial integrity standards and modern digital discoverability requirements. Ethan is committed to objective, fact-driven journalism and adheres to established ethical guidelines, prioritizing accuracy, clarity, and public trust in all reporting.

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