The Ticos jumped up 12 places after reaching the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time. Costa Rica also surpassed Mexico (No. 18) for the first time since the polls started in 1993.
England manager Roy Hodgson will field an experimental side as his team's miserable World Cup draws to a close against Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday at 10 a.m.
Heavyweights England and Uruguay must resurrect their World Cup hopes or face the prospect of an early flight home when they collide in a Group D fixture on Thursday at 1 p.m.