FIFA rankings: U.S. falls to No. 33, Spain stays No. 1

Clint Dempsey and the U.S. play Costa Rica in Commerce City, Colo., on March 22.

Orlando Sierra/AFP/Getty Images

ZURICH (AP) -- The United States has fallen one spot to No. 33 in FIFA's rankings while world and European champion Spain remains No. 1.

The drop by the Americans on Thursday comes despite not playing in a quiet month for international soccer.

Spain is followed by Germany, Argentina, England and Italy. Colombia is sixth, with Portugal dropping to seventh.

LYTTLETON: Bayern Munich escapes in Champions League

Africa's top-ranked team, Ivory Coast, dropped one place to No. 13.Mexico stays at No. 15 and Japan leads Asia at No. 26, up two spots.

Afghanistan rises to its highest place, No. 141. That's up 48 spots after victories in AFC Challenge Cup matches. No. 98 Qatar returns to the top 100 after the 2022 World Cup host beat Egypt in an exhibition game.

WILSON: EPL's disappointment in Champions League

Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.