Sharp Fall for Indian Football: Team Drops to 142 in FIFA Rankings

The Indian national football team’s FIFA ranking has dropped to 142nd, marking its lowest point in a decade. This decline follows a defeat to Bangladesh in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifying match. The loss was India’s first against Bangladesh in twenty years. This result comes after another recent defeat to Singapore in Goa last month, adding to concerns over the team’s form.

The team, known as the ‘Blue Tigers’, has not managed to win in its last five qualifying matches. This has resulted in a steep fall of 40 places from the 102nd position held in December 2023. This is the biggest drop in ranking since October 2016, when India was at 148th. Among Asian nations, India currently stands at 27th out of 46 countries.

The drop in performance on the field is not the only issue. There is also growing uncertainty surrounding India’s domestic football league, the Indian Super League (ISL). This off-field instability is also raising questions about the future of Indian football.