Key Points
- India’s men’s football team has dropped to 133rd in the latest FIFA rankings, its lowest position in nine years.
- Back-to-back defeats in June 0-2 to Thailand and 0-1 to Hong Kong triggered the steep fall.
- Head coach Manolo Marquez parted ways with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) after the poor run.
- India’s Asian Cup 2027 qualification campaign is in serious trouble, with the team bottom of its group.
- Legendary striker Sunil Chhetri returned from retirement, but results have not improved.
- India now ranks 24th among 46 Asian nations; Japan leads Asia at 17th globally.
New Delhi: The Indian men’s football team has slumped to its lowest FIFA ranking since 2016, dropping six places to 133rd in the world following a disastrous June campaign. This marks the team’s worst standing in nearly a decade, surpassing the 135th position it held in December 2016. India’s best-ever FIFA ranking remains 94, achieved in February 1996.
Recent Results: Consecutive Defeats
- June 4: Lost 0-2 to Thailand in an international friendly. Despite flashes of promise, India failed to convert chances and was outplayed by a higher-ranked Thai side.
- Asian Cup Qualifier: Suffered a 0-1 defeat to lower-ranked Hong Kong, severely denting hopes of progressing to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
These setbacks saw India’s rating points fall from 1132.03 to 1113.22.
Coaching Turmoil: Marquez Steps Down
Following the poor run, head coach Manolo Marquez parted ways with the AIFF by mutual agreement. Marquez, who took charge in June 2024, managed just one win in his eight matches at the helm, a solitary victory over the Maldives in March 2025. The AIFF is now seeking a new head coach as the team faces a crucial period.
Asian Cup 2027 Qualification in Peril
India’s defeat to Hong Kong leaves it at the bottom of its qualifying group, with just one point from two matches. Only the group winners advance to the main tournament in Saudi Arabia. With challenging fixtures remaining against Singapore (home and away), Bangladesh (away), and Hong Kong (home), India’s margin for error is virtually nil.
| Fixture Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 9 October 2025 | Singapore | Away |
| 14 November 2025 | Singapore | Home |
| 18 November 2025 | Bangladesh | Away |
| 31 March 2026 | Hong Kong | Home |
Recent Performance: A Troubling Trend
- 2025 Record: 4 matches played 1 win, 1 draw, 2 losses.
- Last 8 Matches: Only 1 win (vs. Maldives), with no wins in 2024 and a goal drought in recent fixtures.
- Return of Sunil Chhetri: The legendary striker was recalled from retirement in a bid to boost the team’s fortunes, but results and scoring woes persist.
Global and Asian Context
- India’s Current Standing: 24th among 46 Asian nations in the FIFA rankings. Japan leads Asia at 17th globally.
- World’s Top 10: Argentina, Spain, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Croatia.
India’s men’s football team faces a critical juncture after slipping to its lowest FIFA ranking in nine years. With Asian Cup qualification hopes hanging by a thread and a search for a new head coach underway, urgent reforms and a turnaround in performance are needed to restore pride and progress in Indian football.
