The Indian men’s football team has slipped to its lowest FIFA ranking since 2016, now standing at 133rd in the latest list released on Thursday. This marks a drop of six places from their previous position.

The slide follows back-to-back defeats in June—a 0-2 loss to Thailand in a friendly on June 4, and a 0-1 defeat to lower-ranked Hong Kong in a crucial Asian Cup qualifying match.

This poor run of form also saw head coach Manolo Marquez part ways with the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Under his short spell, the national side managed just one win in eight games, a solitary victory against the Maldives in March.

In 2024 so far, India has played four matches—winning one, drawing one, and losing two.

The last time India had a worse ranking was in December 2016, when it stood at 135th. The team’s best-ever FIFA ranking came back in February 1996, when they reached 94th.

India currently holds 1113.22 rating points, down from 1132.03 previously.

The team’s decline in performance has come despite the return of former captain and veteran striker Sunil Chhetri. His comeback was seen as a hopeful boost, but it has yet to make a real difference on the field.

Among the 46 Asian nations, India is ranked 24th, while Japan leads the continent, placed 17th in the world.

India’s defeat to Hong Kong has hurt their chances of qualifying for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, further adding to the team’s recent disappointments.

India’s next international match is set for October, when they will take on Singapore away in the third round of the Asian Cup qualifiers.

Global rankings: Argentina on Top

At the global level, Argentina remains at the top of the 210-nation FIFA ranking table. The top 10 includes:

  1. Argentina

  2. Spain

  3. France

  4. England

  5. Brazil

  6. Portugal

  7. Netherlands

  8. Belgium

  9. Germany

  10. Croatia