PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) - Eight-time Caribbean Cup champions Trinidad & Tobago have climbed back to the top of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) rankings, following recent wins over El Salvador and Cuba.

T&T knocked off El Salvador 3-1 in a friendly in mid-August and then toppled the Cubans also 3-1 in a World Cup qualifier on August 20.

Cuba, the CFU's No 1 team for July and August, dipped 12 places on FIFA's latest rankings list released yesterday to 92nd while T&T jumped 12 spots to 80th and took over as the region's top team.

T&T's Soca Warriors had been No 1 in the CFU for four consecutive months from March to June, but gave way to Cuba in the summer months after a shock loss to Bermuda in a first-leg World Cup qualifier.

Suriname retained the No 2 spot in the region with a FIFA rating of 84th, and the Cubans are now down to third, followed by Jamaica (105th), with Guyana fifth in the CFU with a world rating of 112th.

The CFU's top 10 is completed by Haiti (117th), Antigua & Barbuda (122nd), Bermuda (125th), and Barbados (134th), with Grenada (139th) in 10th position.

Mexico and the USA maintained their clear positions as dominant teams in CONCACAF, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football.

Ranked 24th in the world, the Mexicans remain No1 in CONCACAF ahead of the USA, who are 28th.
Honduras stay third in the confederation at No 60 on the FIFA list.

Costa Rica, 73rd in the world, are fourth in CONCACAF, ahead of T&T, Canada (81st), Suriname, Cuba, Panama (96th) and Guatemala (99th).

Jamaica's Reggae Boyz are in an unfamiliar position outside CONCACAF's top 10, showing up as 11th in the current ratings.

Among the world's top teams, new European champions Spain retain the No 1 spot, stalked by Italy and Germany, with the Netherlands fourth and Croatia fifth and Brazil sixth.

CFU Top 10 Rankings
(world ranking in brackets)

1 Trinidad & Tobago (80)
2 Suriname (84)
3 Cuba (92)
4 Jamaica (105)
5 Guyana (112)
6 Haiti (117)
7 Antigua & Barbuda (122)
8 Bermuda (125)
9 Barbados (134)
10 Grenada (139)