In the latest FIFA rankings, the Indian football men’s team has shown a downfall and is positioned at 121, following a massive defeat in their recent match against Afghanistan. The team was defeated by 1 point in the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Guwahati last month.
The team coached by Igor Stimac, which had achieved a top-100 ranking last year after clinching victories in the Intercontinental Cup, the Tri-Nations tournament, and the SAFF Championship, suffered a stunning defeat at home to Afghanistan on March 26, continuing its recent string of poor performances.
Despite securing a historic away win against Kuwait in the World Cup qualifiers, marking their first such victory in over two decades, India’s disappointing display at the AFC Asian Cup 2023 in Qatar, where they failed to score a single goal and lost all their matches, resulting in a drop of 15 spots to 117th in the rankings after the continental tournament.
Recent goalless matches
India concluded their Asian Cup campaign in January without a point or a goal, finishing at the bottom of Group B after losses to Australia (0-2), Uzbekistan (0-3), and Syria (0-1).
Last month, they were held to a goalless draw by Afghanistan in the first leg of the second round World Cup qualifiers in Abha, Saudi Arabia, before suffering a defeat in the home fixture, sparking outrage among fans and calls for Stimac’s dismissal.
India’s lowest-ever ranking is 173. Prior to their decline to 117th in March, the Indian team held the 102nd position in the FIFA rankings released on December 21, 2023.
Reigning world champions Argentina maintain their top spot in the rankings, followed by 2022 World Cup runners-up France, England, Belgium, and Brazil. Netherlands occupy the sixth position, followed by Portugal, Spain, and Italy, with Croatia rounding up the top 10.
(With PTI inputs)