Indian men's football team slips to 133rd in FIFA rankings

The men’s Indian football team has experienced a significant decline, dropping six places to rank 133rd in the latest FIFA rankings announced on Thursday. This marks India's lowest ranking in nearly a decade, the last being in December 2016 when they were ranked 135.

The team, known as the Blue Tigers, has seen a downturn since the close of 2023, a year in which they clinched three trophies and entered the top 100 rankings. However, their fortunes changed following a group-stage exit at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and subsequent elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

A coaching change from Igor Stimac to Manolo Marquez did not yield the desired results, as the team went without a competitive win for over 16 months. Earlier this month, Marquez parted ways with the team after a 0-1 defeat to Hong Kong in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup third-round qualifiers, marking his last game in charge.

India’s six-spot fall is among the largest in the current rankings, matching declines by Chinese Taipei, Cayman Islands, St Kitts and Nevis, El Salvador, and Slovakia. Only Congo, the Maldives, Haiti, and Jamaica suffered a steeper fall, each dropping seven positions.