On Thursday, the Indian men’s football team achieved a significant milestone by entering the sub-100 FIFA ranking for the first time since 2018. The team climbed one spot to secure the 99th position following their triumph in the SAFF Championship. In the earlier SAFF Championships held in Bengaluru this month, India showcased their prowess by defeating formidable opponents Lebanon and Kuwait in the semifinals and finals, respectively, with both victories achieved via penalty shoot-outs.
Lebanon also made progress in the rankings, moving up two places to be positioned just below India at the 100th spot, while Kuwait advanced four places to reach the 137th position, as per the latest FIFA chart released on Thursday.
Lebanon and Kuwait, both West Asian countries, were invited to participate in the SAFF Championships to ensure a competitive tournament.
With 1208.69 points, India’s ranking has improved, and this achievement marks their return to the sub-100 category. India’s highest-ever FIFA ranking was 94th, achieved in 1996. In the past, the team had also secured the 99th position in 1993 and the 96th position in 2017 and 2018. Last month, they were placed at the 100th spot.
On the global stage, Argentina, the world champions, maintained their top position in the FIFA rankings, followed by France, Brazil, England, and Belgium in the top five.
In the Asian region, Japan led the chart at the 20th spot, with Iran at 22nd, Australia at 27th, Korea at 28th, and Saudi Arabia at 54th, making up the top five teams in the continent.
