Spain's national team lines up for a photo before their World Cup qualifier against Turkey on March 28. Spain's national team lines up for a photo before their World Cup qualifier against Turkey on March 28. (Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

Canada was one of the biggest movers when the FIFA world soccer rankings were released on Wednesday, climbing six spots to 83rd, while European champion Spain completed a calendar year at the top of the heap.

However, Canada's move wasn't based on team results. The men's national team has only played one match since it crashed out of World Cup qualification last November, which was a 1-0 victory over Cyprus on Saturday.

Instead, devalued results (FIFA only takes the last four years into account) and poor play from squads near Canada's position are the likely causes for the big jump. Canada is nestled between Oceania champion New Zealand at 82nd and Congo at 84th.

Canada's next competitive action comes during the CONCACAF Gold Cup at the start of July. Canada sits in Group A with Costa Rica, El Salvador and Jamaica, and will play the Jamaicans to open the tournament on July 3.

There was plenty of movement in the top 10 of the FIFA rankings. The Netherlands overtook Germany for second place, marking the first time the Dutch have been No. 2 since October 2005.

Italy leapfrogged Brazil for fourth, even though the Samba boys defeated the Azzurri 2-0 in a February friendly. England climbed over Argentina to sixth spot, while Croatia, Russia and France rounded out the top 10.

The United States was the top CONCACAF side, 14th overall, while Mexico sat in second (26th overall). Canada was eighth out of the 35 teams in its qualification zone.

Paraguay, which leads the South American World Cup qualifying group, climbed four places to No. 13.

Cameroon is the best-placed African nation at 21st, and Burkina Faso rose seven to a best-ever 50th.

Australia leads the Asian confederation, rising three spots to No. 29, with Japan moving up four places at No. 31.

Next month's rankings could look significantly different, because international action will take centre stage. World Cup qualifiers begin Wednesday and will continue for the rest of the month, while the FIFA Confederations Cup begins June 14-28.

The tournament will feature Brazil, Egypt, Iraq, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, host South Africa and the U.S. It kicks off on June 14, when South Africa takes on Iraq (CBCSports.ca, 9:45 a.m. ET).