India’s national football team has suffered a meaningful drop in the latest FIFA world rankings, falling to 142nd globally following a disappointing Asian Cup qualifying campaign. The decline-a six-place drop-comes after the team failed to secure a win in five qualifying matches, eliminating them from contention for the 2027 tournament and raising concerns about the programme’s direction. This marks one of the lowest ranking points for Indian football in the last decade, as detailed in reports released Friday from FIFA headquarters in Zurich.
India Suffers Setback in FIFA Rankings Following Asian Cup Qualifying Exit
Zurich: India’s FIFA ranking took a significant hit this week, as the national team dropped six places to 142nd in the world. The decline follows a disappointing performance in the AFC Asian Cup qualifying rounds, where India failed to secure a single victory in five matches, losing three contests outright. This result marks one of the lowest points for Indian football in the last decade.
India’s elimination from contention came in October with a 2-1 defeat against Singapore. Adding to the recent struggles, the team also suffered a 1-0 loss to Bangladesh on Tuesday. The team’s performance raises questions about their trajectory as they look ahead to future competitions.
Meanwhile, Spain continues to dominate the global stage, maintaining the top spot in the FIFA rankings. The Spanish national team has gone 31 consecutive matches without a loss and recently qualified for next year’s World Cup, solidifying their position as a powerhouse in international football. Argentina, France, and England round out the top four.
Brazil climbed two spots to fifth in the rankings, while Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Croatia complete the top ten. Italy experienced a drop, falling three places to 13th. Japan remains the highest-ranked Asian team, currently sitting at 18th.
