The Indian football men’s team has recently dropped four places in the FIFA rankings, landing at 121, marking its lowest position in recent years. This decline comes following a disappointing 1-2 loss to Afghanistan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers last month. The team, which had previously made it to the top 100 after winning various tournaments, including the Intercontinental Cup and the SAFF Championship, faced criticism after its defeat to Afghanistan.
Despite managing to secure a historic away win against Kuwait in the World Cup qualifiers, India’s poor performance at the AFC Asian Cup 2023 in Qatar, where they failed to score a goal in any match and finished at the bottom of their group, led to a further drop in the rankings to 117th. The team’s struggles continued as they were unable to secure a victory in the subsequent World Cup qualifier matches.
The disappointing results have sparked frustration among fans, with many calling for changes within the team, including the potential removal of head coach Igor Stimac. It is worth noting that India’s all-time worst FIFA ranking stands at 173.
Despite these challenges, the FIFA rankings still maintain the top positions for reigning world champions Argentina, followed by France, England, Belgium, and Brazil. The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Croatia complete the top 10 in the latest rankings.
Overall, India’s football team is currently facing a setback in its performance, with hopes for improvement in future competitions.
