Indian Men's Football Team Drops to 133rd in FIFA Rankings After Recent Losses

FIFA Ranking Decline

The Indian men's football team has experienced a significant drop in the FIFA rankings, falling six places to 133rd following two defeats in June. On June 4, India lost to Thailand with a score of 0-2 in an international friendly, and subsequently faced a 0-1 defeat against lower-ranked Hong Kong in an Asian Cup qualifying match.

Coaching Changes and Historical Context

In the wake of these losses, head coach Manolo Marquez parted ways with the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The last time the Indian team faced such a low ranking was in December 2016, when they were positioned at 135th. India's highest-ever ranking was achieved in February 1996, when they reached 94th place. Currently, the team holds a rating of 1113.22 points, down from 1132.03 points, and ranks 24th among 46 Asian nations, with Japan leading at 17th.

Challenges Ahead for the Team

The recent defeat against Hong Kong has complicated India's chances of qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup. Under Marquez's leadership, the team has only managed to secure one victory in their last eight matches, which came against the Maldives in March. So far this year, India has played four matches, winning one, losing two, and drawing one.

Sunil Chhetri's Return and Upcoming Matches

Due to these disappointing results, former captain and star striker Sunil Chhetri made a return to the squad, but this has not significantly improved the team's performance. India's next international match is scheduled for October against Singapore, which will be part of the third round of the Asian Cup qualifiers. Meanwhile, reigning world champions Argentina top the global rankings, followed by Spain, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Croatia in the top ten.