Costa Rica's players celebrate winning their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game against Greece at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 29, 2014.BRIAN SNYDER/Reuters
World Cup quarter-finalist Costa Rica has risen above the United States to be CONCACAF's highest-ranked team in the latest FIFA rankings.
Costa Rica climbs one place to No. 15, and Mexico is at No. 17 after also rising one place this month.
The U.S. – which, like Mexico, exited the World Cup in the second round – falls three places to No. 18.
Although none of the CONCACAF rivals played last month, the moves reflect changing values of past results in the four-year cycle of matches FIFA uses in its calculations. For the first time, the rankings weigh South America as the strongest confederation ahead of UEFA.
World Cup winner Germany stays No. 1 ahead of Argentina and the Netherlands.
Former champion Spain is tied with Brazil for seventh place.
Canada sits 122nd in the latest rankings, down four places.