Differing slightly from my usual format of #ConcacafRank, this time around I'm just doing my own power rankings on what I've seen. And I have seen a lot of Concacaf football the past few months. I watched every single match of Nations League C, the majority of League A, and select League B matches. Add on top of that an entire Gold Cup over the summer.
It's a rare opportunity; we've had a lot of Concacaf on Concacaf crime in a small time frame and it finally gives us a good chance to evaluate the confederation as a whole. As a general rule I'm counting the Nations League and Gold Cup as the most important games; Nations League qualifiers (cause they were a while ago) and friendlies are valued a little less in my mind.
#1 Mexico
Gold Cup Champions, Nations League 1 seed, really no argument or debating here.
#2 Costa Rica
I barely edge them over the US on the basis of a great performance against Mexico at the Gold Cup and a big road win at Curaçao.
#3 USA
Their talent keeps them in the top 3 but coaching and complete inability to get results on the road leaves them vulnerable to dropping several spots in the near future.
#4 Jamaica
Jamaica's Nations League results were dominant, and they had a great Gold Cup. The friendly win over the US is not forgotten, either.
#5 Honduras
Honduras are really bouncing back lately, and are almost untouchable at home right now. Gonna be a serious pain for everyone else in the Hex.
#6 Curaçao
Had a stellar Gold Cup where they outplayed the US for 80 minutes (I was there!) and their Nations League results were impressive as well. They also beat a very good Vietnam team on penalties in June in the King's Cup.
#7 Haiti
Haiti have lost a step since their fantastic Gold Cup campaign, but you can't ignore that just a few months ago they beat Costa Rica and Canada back to back before taking Mexico to the edge and losing on a questionable penalty.
#8 Panama
Panama haven't been the same since their old guard departed after the World Cup. They barely stayed afloat in Nations League A and didn't impress at the Gold Cup.
#9 Canada
The team on the rise in the region; their momentum was stopped by Haiti over the summer but the big win over the US showed they're for real. In the mix for a Hex place, but do they want it? I think they might be better off playing through the tournament.
#10 El Salvador
Choked away a Gold Cup knockout spot but were good enough to get there, and then had a fine Nations League campaign including two wins over arch-nemesis Montserrat.
#11 Martinique
Martinique's ceiling is so high; you saw them go toe to toe with Mexico over the summer. A disappointing League A performance but they did enough to stay afloat.
#12 Bermuda
Bermuda showed promise at the Gold Cup, and really took off in their Nations League group, winning at Panama and nearly stealing a historic point in Mexico that would've kept them above relegation.
#13 Guatemala
Down in League C after their suspension, it's hard to judge them against the competition they've faced but 25 goals in four matches along with zero against is pretty good, no?
#14 Trinidad and Tobago
A program in complete shambles right now. They haven't won any official games since September of 2018.
#15 Suriname
Gleofilo Vlitjer. A god among men.
#16 Guadeloupe
Like Guatemala, they didn't face the steepest competition in League C, but they brought an absurd amount of talent over from France and look ready to return to their 2007/2009 heights.
#17 Grenada
Jamal Charles carried Grenada straight into the Gold Cup after a nearly flawless League B run; a really fun team to watch.
#18 Cuba
The unfortunate wave of defections means Cuba is not the same team they once were, but the talent that's still there is League B level.
#19 Guyana
Guyana score a lot of goals and have a very good home record; after a not so great 2019 Gold Cup they're in the playoffs for 2021 hoping to get another chance.
#20 Montserrat
We all want them to succeed, and they're now two series wins away from the Gold Cup. Can they do it? Maybe, but they need a friendly draw to help them out.
#21 French Guiana
Looked good to qualify for the Gold Cup at first glance, before running into the freight train that was Grenada. They'll be a threat in the playoffs.
#22 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Choked away a Gold Cup berth in their final Nations League game. A good side on their best day, but too inconsistent for my tastes.
#23 Dominican Republic
Haiti are the new darlings of the region, and the DR are the new Haiti. If you love grinding out 1-1 draws these are your guys, but they're damn good at it.
#24 Antigua and Barbuda
Another team with a ridiculous ceiling but is too inconsistent. Beat Guyana and even Curaçao, but struggled with a weak Aruba both times and got smoked by Jamaica twice.
#25 Belize
Deon McCaulay the perennial Belize goalscorer is still active and still scoring, but the rest of his team his regressed.
#26 Nicaragua
Same story with Nicaragua. Haven't done anything lately besides scrape out wins over Dominica, and they aren't trending upwards either.
#27 Barbados
Looked really good for the most part in League C, and have legitimately one of the best home records in the entire region. They've punched WAY above their weight at home lately, rarely ever conceding and even drawing Bermuda last March.
#28 St. Kitts and Nevis
A disappointing Nations League for the Sugar Boyz, who once looked destined to make the Gold Cup. They'll start the rebuild in League C next cycle.
#29 The Bahamas
The Bahamas had very little trouble in their group, even against a decent Bonaire side, and new coach Nesley Jean seems to have them playing at their peak.
#30 Saint Lucia
Relegation from a deep League B group was sort of expected, and they stayed alive til the final matchday. I think they'll bounce right back up next cycle.
#31 Cayman Islands
The best League C runner-ups by far. They nearly earned promotion over heavy favorites Barbados and showed out, particularly at home.
#32 Dominica
A dull campaign, but not a surprising one. And they did get to spoil Saint Vincent on the final day.
#33 Aruba
Aruba looked lost out there and lost all six Nations League games. Four or so years ago they looked to be on the up; now they'll need to start all over again in League C.
#34 Saint Martin
The most improved from the qualifiers to the real thing, for sure. Saint Martin picked up 3 wins including over Barbados and the Cayman Islands just one year after going 0-0-4 in qualifying with a horrendous goal differential.
#35 Bonaire
Bonaire had a tough time getting their actual full strength lineup out on the field, and if they could do that next cycle promotion may be on the cards.
#36 Puerto Rico
Had a long winless streak which they finally broke against Anguilla (twice), and the results against Guatemala were littered with penalties that maybe shouldn't have been. Still a long way to go, but things are improving.
#37 Turks and Caicos Islands
When Billy Forbes plays, they're pretty dangerous going forward but have a swiss cheese defense. When Billy Forbes doesn't play? Bad things happen.
#38 US Virgin Islands
The USVI went 1-5 in their six group matches but almost all of them were competitive and the team really just needed one person to step up and score goals.
#39 Sint Maarten
Gerwin Lake is ridiculous. Like he is so far ahead of the typical League C player its comical. But one man isn't enough to save Sint Maarten completely.
#40 Anguilla
After the great showing against Puerto Rico at home (3-2 defeat) and an away draw to The Bahamas in CNLQ, Anguilla have earned their way out of the cellar.
#41 British Virgin Islands
A ridiculously young team, but also one that dropped all four League C games despite holding the lead in two of them. The defense needs work and endurance was a problem throughout the group stage, but this team is by no means a lost cause.
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