The Indian Men’s Football Team has hit a new low, officially dropping to the 133rd position in the latest FIFA World Rankings — the nation’s worst standing in nine years. This decline follows consecutive defeats to Thailand in an international friendly and to Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.
India is now ranked 24th among 46 Asian nations. The Blue Tigers endured a winless 2024, a period that saw the sacking of head coach Igor Stimac and the appointment of Spaniard Manolo Marquez. However, Marquez’s tenure did little to reverse the team’s fortunes. Under his leadership, India managed just one victory — a friendly win over the Maldives.
In the ongoing AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, India sit bottom of the table with a solitary point. The recent losses to Thailand and Hong Kong ultimately led to Marquez parting ways with the national team. Qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia now appears daunting, with challenging fixtures ahead against Bangladesh, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
India had last plummeted to its lowest-ever FIFA ranking of 135 in 2016, but a historic resurgence followed under then-head coach Stephen Constantine. The Blue Tigers broke into the top 100 in July 2017, reaching 96th — their highest in 21 years.
Under Igor Stimac’s tenure as well, India briefly re-entered the top 100 in 2023. That period included three tournament wins and the team’s best-ever run of clean sheets. However, since then, performances have dipped drastically, and the downward spiral continues.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is now actively seeking a new head coach. The next appointment will face tremendous pressure — not just to arrest the slide, but also to revive India’s AFC Asian Cup campaign. Failure to qualify would end India’s hopes of making a third consecutive appearance in the continental showpiece.
Meanwhile, Argentina continues to lead the global FIFA rankings, followed by Spain, France, and England.
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