July 2025 CONCACAF Men’s Rankings: Santiago Gimenez’s Mexico stays on top — But where are Christian Pulisic and the USMNT?

While Mexico celebrates another historic milestone, questions loom around one of the region’s other traditional powerhouses — particularly Christian Pulisic and the USMNT, who find themselves in unfamiliar territory.

As the dust settles after the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup and a pivotal round of World Cup qualifiers, Mexico, led by Santiago Gimenez, continues to dominate the region. They remain perched atop the July 2025 CONCACAF Men’s National Team Rankings with a commanding lead. But while El Tri celebrates another historic milestone, questions loom around one of the region’s other traditional powerhouses — particularly Christian Pulisic and the USMNT, who find themselves in unfamiliar territory.

Mexico retained the top spot with 2,024 points, a result of their dual triumph in the 2025 Nations League Finals and the CONCACAF Gold Cup, where they defeated the United States 2-1 in the final. Star striker Raúl Jimenez and captain Edson Alvarez scored the crucial goals that sealed the win.

“To win both the Nations League and the Gold Cup this year is special — it’s a statement,” said head coach Javier Aguirre, who now has two Gold Cup titles under his belt, adding to his 2009 success.

This latest success marks El Tricolor’s 10th Gold Cup victory, reaffirming their regional dominance and extending their lead at the top by nearly 200 points over the second-placed team.

Surging nations reshape the top five

While Mexico stands tall, there’s been significant reshuffling just behind it. Panama climbed to second place with 1,832 points, leapfrogging Canada (now third with 1,812). Costa Rica also moved up a spot to fourth, thanks to an unbeaten Gold Cup run that ended on penalties in the quarterfinals. They added 72 points, second only to Mexico among the top 10 nations.

But the most notable movement — and concern — centers on the United States, which dropped to fifth place with 1,732 points. Despite making the Gold Cup final, their inability to lift the trophy and recent inconsistent results in World Cup qualifiers appear to have hurt their ranking.

Where is the USMNT headed?

Falling to fifth in the region marks a low point for a U.S. side that is usually entrenched within the top two. For Christian Pulisic, this ranking is a stark contrast to his personal form — having enjoyed a career-best season at Milan.

There has been no escaping the criticism that has followed the Rossoneri star’s decision to miss the United States national team’s last competitive event before the 2026 World Cup, the Gold Cup. Some former national team players, supporters, and even manager Mauricio Pochettino himself voiced their disapproval.

The broader U.S. squad, however, appears to be undergoing a transitional phase, with new tactical experiments, lineup rotations, and questions surrounding their long-term vision.

The drop may also reflect the side’s recent defensive struggles and a reliance on individual brilliance rather than cohesive team performances. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon — hosted in part on home soil — the ranking should serve as a wake-up call.