U.S. jumps to 13th in FIFA world rankings

The U.S. national team’s 2-0 win over World Cup-bound South Korea earlier this month helped the Americans jump up one spot to 13th in the latest FIFA world rankings released Thursday.

That vaulted the U.S. over England, which fell from 13th to 15th. England was ranked fourth in the world at this time a year ago. It’s also the highest the U.S. has been ranked since October 2009, when it was 11th in the world.

Mexico did not move and remains the CONCACAF region’s second-highest-ranked team behind the U.S., at 21.

Spain, meanwhile, remained No. 1, followed by Germany, whom the U.S. will face in World Cup group play in June in Brazil. Portugal, which is also matched with the U.S. in group play, moved up one spot to fourth behind Argentina.

Ghana, against whom the U.S. will open the World Cup, fell 13 spots to No. 37.

Rounding out the top 10 is No. 5 Colombia, followed by Switzerland, Uruguay, Italy, Brazil and the Netherlands. Ukraine, whom the U.S. is to meet in a friendly next month, is 18th -- the highest-ranked team not to qualify for this summer’s tournament in Brazil.

ALSO:

U.S. beats Russia in eight-round shootout in Olympic hockey

Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig plans to dial it down, at least a little, in 2014

Angels owner Arte Moreno meets with Tustin officials to talk stadium