​The 2026 World Cup is behind us, and a new cycle is beginning.Men’s international soccer returns this week, with teams playing up to four matches before the mid-October return to the club game.In the Concacaf region, many teams are playing Concacaf Nations League contests, hoping to reach the quarterfinals where the top-ranked teams await their matchups. Those top teams are playing friendly matches to give new players a shot and to stay fresh ahead of those official contests.So where do the men’s teams in North America, Central America and the Caribbean stand heading into the first window after the World Cup took place in the region? Here are our power rankings as the push toward the 2027 Gold Cup, the 2030 World Cup and, potentially, the 2028 Copa América begins.First five out: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic, Cuba10. El SalvadorLast match: Drew with Qatar 0-0 in pre-World Cup friendlyNext matches: Concacaf Nations League A play vs. Martinique, @ Guatemala, vs. Jamaica, @ MartiniqueAfter an ugly 2025 that saw La Selecta go winless, manager Hernan “Bollilo” Gomez is showing some signs of turning things around. El Salvador competed well in both of its friendly matches against teams headed to the World Cup, falling just 1-0 to Korea and earning a draw with Qatar.View this post on InstagramThe team’s ceiling is still limited. Only four players on Gomez’s current roster play outside the Salvadoran domestic league, which is improving but still far behind others in the region. It puts a lot of weight on the shoulders of Nathan Ordaz, still just 22 and trying to find his place with D.C. United, and the Gil brothers.9. SurinameLast match: Lost to Bolivia 2-1 in intercontinental playoff matchNext matches: Concacaf Nations League A play @ Honduras, vs. Martinique, vs. Guatemala, @ GuatemalaA surprise entrant in the intercontinental playoff ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the Green Guardians fell short despite a good first half against Bolivia. Henk Fraser, who worked as an assistant on the staff that got Suriname to that point, returns as manager.Now, the “passport-gate” issue threatens to undo some of the progress Fraser and Co. made. A Dutch soccer podcast threw a wrench in recruitment for Suriname and Indonesia after finding the way some players were qualifying for those countries made them ineligible to keep their Dutch citizenship or to work in the Netherlands.View this post on InstagramSuriname’s federation has worked with its government to pass what appears to be an elegant solution to the issue, but it will mean nothing if players are spooked about the potential of a Suriname switch. Two new players have joined up for this month’s Nations League matches. Many of the usual suspects from Suriname’s World Cup push are back as well, meaning Suriname should be able to aim for the same heights.8. Honduras Last match: Lost to Argentina 2-0 in friendly matchNext matches: Concacaf Nations League A play vs. Suriname, @ Jamaica, @