Trinidad (CMC):

Jamaica's Reggae Boyz suffered a seven-place drop in the FIFA rankings yesterday, but retain the No.1 spot in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) rankings over Trinidad and Tobago.

The Jamaicans, dominant in the CFU ratings over the past 12 months, are 81st on the FIFA Coca-Cola year-ending December list, marginally ahead of T&T, who are 82nd after slipping one place from their November position.

Neither team had an international match in the period for the latest ranking adjustments.

The drop - from No.74 in November - for Jamaica is uncomfortable since it takes them outside of the world's top 75, which qualifies a country to have its players eligible to acquire work permits for overseas contracts.

Because of work-permit restrictions for players from countries ranked outside FIFA's top 75, most Caribbean countries have had the prospects of talented players stifled.

Year-best ranking

Jamaica, with a year-best ranking of 64th in February, held the CFU's top spot throughout the year barring June and September when T&T were No.1.

All leading CFU teams declined on FIFA's December ratings with the region's No.3 Haiti falling five places to 90th and fourth-ranked Cuba plunging 23 places to 119th in the world.

The region's fifth-rated Guyana fell 10 places to 127th in the world and Barbados, down 14 places to 129th, are sixth in the CFU. Antigua and Barbuda slid seven places in the world to 130th but moved up from eighth to seventh in the CFU, with Grenada slipping from fourth to eighth.

Biggest fall

The Grenadians, who had climbed as high as No.88 (in July) on the FIFA world list this year following their runners-up finish to Jamaica in the Digicel Caribbean Championship a year ago, suffered the world's biggest fall this month, tumbling 35 places to No.138. Bermuda, 142nd in the world, and Suriname (144th) complete the CFU's top 10.

The USA, rated 14th in the world, are CONCACAF's No.1 team for the 15th month in a row ahead of Gold Cup champions Mexico, who are 17th on the FIFA list, followed by Honduras (37th). Costa Rica (44th) are fourth in CONCACAF, followed by Canada (56th) with Panama (70th) sixth and El Salvador (78th) seventh. Jamaica, T&T and Haiti complete CONCACAF's top 10.

FIFA's Team of the Year, Spain, retain the world's No.1 spot on FIFA's list ahead of Brazil in a Top 10 that remains unchanged from last month. The Netherlands are third, followed by Italy, Portugal and Germany with France seventh and Argentina eighth, with England ninth and Croatia 10th.