Whether through the weight of expectation, some patchy warm-up form or injury issues, pre-tournament questions were being asked about how the co-hosts may fare when things got underway.
Through the first week-and-a-half of action, the answer has been emphatically positive as Canada, Mexico and USA have dazzled at their home finals.
That brilliant start, with a combined 16 points from a possible 18, has also seen the co-hosts surge up the . Based off the live ranking after the conclusion of their second group stage fixtures, the trio all now sit inside the top 30, with Mexico and USA on the verge of cracking the top ten.
Current live ranking: 27 Latest official ranking: 30 Heading into the World Cup, Canada were sitting 30th on the , published on 11 June. Having collected their maiden tournament point with a , the Canucks then dazzled in a . That has seen Jesse Marsch’s side move up to 27 on the live table.
Current live ranking: 11 Latest official ranking: 14 Mexico are the only one of the co-hosts yet to concede through their first two matches, having in the tournament opener and then . That has seen Javier Aguirre’s men jump up three spots to 11th. If results fall their way over the next week, it’s possible that Mexico could end the group stage inside the top ten.
Current live ranking: 13 Latest official ranking: 17 in Los Angeles and then to make a superb start to the tournament. Those results have seen the Stars and Stripes pocket plenty of positive ranking points, including +20.8 in the Australia victory, to move up to 13th. That puts them just 11 points adrift of Mexico as both battle to push into the top ten.
Argentina maintain top spot, ahead of a France side that took advantage of Spain’s slip-up against Cabo Verde, to move into second.
Sources: FIFA Official
