The Indian men’s football team fell four places to 121 in the latest FIFA rankings, its lowest ranking in recent years, after losing 1-2 to Afghanistan in the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Guwahati last month.
The Igor Stimac-coached side, which had broken into the top 100 last year after winning the Intercontinental Cup, the Tri-Nations tournament, and the SAFF Championship, suffered a shocking defeat at home to lowly-ranked Afghanistan on March 26 to continue its recent poor form.
India’s Asian Cup campaign ended in January with no points or goals after losses to Australia (0-2), Uzbekistan (0-3) and Syria (0-1). It finished last in Group B, which featured four teams.
Last month, the Blue Tigers were held to a goalless draw by Afghanistan in their first leg second round World Cup qualifiers in Abha, Saudi Arabia, before losing at home, causing outrage among fans and calls for Stimac’s dismissal.
India’s worst ranking is 173.
Before dropping 15 places to 117 in March, the Indian team was ranked 102nd in the FIFA rankings released on December 21, 2023.
Argentina, the reigning world champions, remains at the top of the rankings, followed by France, England, Belgium, and Brazil, the 2022 World Cup runners-up.
The Netherlands is in sixth place, followed by Portugal, Spain, and Italy, with Croatia completing the top ten.
