NEW DELHI, July 10: In a significant setback for Indian football, the national men’s team has fallen six places to 133rd in the latest FIFA world rankings, marking its lowest standing since December 2016. The drop follows a string of poor performances, including consecutive defeats in June — a 0-2 loss to Thailand in a friendly and a narrow 0-1 defeat to Hong Kong in an important Asian Cup qualifier.
The recent slump has severely impacted India’s prospects for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and led to the resignation of head coach Manolo Marquez, who parted ways with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) shortly after the losses. India now holds 1113.22 rating points, down from 1132.03, and ranks 24th among the 46 nations in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), where Japan continues to lead, placed 17th globally.
This downward trajectory continues despite the much-anticipated return of former captain and iconic striker Sunil Chhetri earlier this year. Under Marquez’s tenure, India managed just one win in eight matches — a 2-0 victory over the Maldives in March 2025.
Of the four matches played in 2025, India has recorded one win, one draw, and two losses, underscoring a period of prolonged underperformance. The team’s all-time best FIFA ranking remains 94, achieved in February 1996.
India’s next assignment will be an away clash against Singapore in the third round of the Asian Cup qualifiers this October. Globally, Argentina continues to dominate the FIFA standings, followed by Spain, France, England, Brazil, and Portugal, with the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Croatia completing the top 10.
