India Drops to 133rd in FIFA Rankings, Worst Since 2016

Indian men’s football team dropped to 133rd place in the FIFA world rankings, going down by six positions. This fall comes after two recent losses in June against Thailand and Hong Kong. It marks India’s lowest ranking since December 2016, raising concern about the team’s future in upcoming tournaments.

Recent Losses Cause Major Ranking Drop

India’s ranking fell from 127 to 133 in the latest FIFA rankings, released on Thursday, July 10. The slide happened after India lost 0-2 to Thailand in a friendly match on June 4, and then 0-1 to lower-ranked Hong Kong during the Asian Cup qualifiers. These losses also led to the departure of head coach Manolo Marquez, who parted ways with the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

India’s rating points also dropped from 1132.03 to 1113.22. Among Asian nations, India now ranks 24th out of 46, while Japan leads the continent at 17th place in the world rankings.

A Worrying Trend in Performance

This ranking drop reflects a bigger concern for Indian football. The team has only won one of its last eight matches under coach Marquez — a victory over the Maldives in March 2025. In total, India has played four international matches this year: one win, one draw, and two losses.

These poor results have left India in a tough spot in their bid to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. In response, former captain Sunil Chhetri was recalled to the team earlier this year, but his return has not helped turn things around.

What’s Next for Team India?

India’s next international match is scheduled against Singapore in October 2025, as part of the third round of Asian Cup qualifiers. With the recent poor performance, expectations are high and pressure is mounting for a turnaround.

Globally, Argentina tops the FIFA rankings, followed by Spain, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Croatia.