The Canadian women, despite an Olympic spying scandal that cost the team its coach and a six-point penalty, have climbed two spots to No.
6 in the latest FIFA world rankings. Canada, which went to Paris as the defending Olympic champion, was rewarded for its on-field performance, posting wins over France, New Zealand and Colombia to survive the point deduction and make it to the knockout round where it lost a penalty shootout to Germany in the quarterfinals.
FIFA subsequently barred coach Bev Priestman and two members of her staff from football for a year. Canada Soccer has initiated an independent review into the scandal.
Canada's highest-ever position was No. 4, a ranking it last held in March 2018. The U.S., which won Olympic gold in Paris, climbed four spots to return to No.