The Indian Men’s Football Team has reached a disheartening milestone, plummeting to 133rd in the latest FIFA World Rankings — their lowest position in nine years. This staggering fall follows a series of crushing defeats, including losses to Thailand in an international friendly and Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.
Currently languishing at 24th among 46 Asian nations, India’s footballing woes have deepened throughout 2024. A winless year led to the dismissal of head coach Igor Stimac, with Spaniard Manolo Marquez stepping in. However, Marquez’s brief stint brought little relief, with the team securing only a single victory, a friendly win against the Maldives.
In the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, India sits at the bottom of the table with just one point. The recent setbacks against Thailand and Hong Korea ultimately sealed Marquez’s fate, leaving the national team in disarray. The road to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia now looks increasingly treacherous, with crucial matches against Bangladesh, Singapore, and Hong Kong looming large.
This isn’t the first time India has found itself in such dire straits. In 2016, the team hit rock bottom at 135th in the FIFA rankings, only to stage a remarkable comeback under coach Stephen Constantine. By July 2017, the Blue Tigers soared to 96th — their highest rank in over two decades.
Even under Igor Stimac, India briefly re-entered the elite top 100 in 2023, buoyed by three tournament wins and a record-breaking streak of clean sheets. However, those glimmers of hope have since faded, replaced by a relentless downward spiral.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has now intensified its search for a new head coach, a figure who will shoulder immense pressure to halt the decline and reignite India’s AFC Asian Cup aspirations. Missing out on qualification would shatter India’s dreams of a third consecutive appearance in the prestigious tournament.
On the global stage, Argentina remains the undisputed leader in the FIFA rankings, with Spain, France, and England trailing closely behind.
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