India Holds Steady in FIFA Rankings Amid Global Shifts

India remains in the 124th position in the FIFA men's rankings, even as global football heavyweights reshuffle their standings. The latest rankings, released on Thursday, underscore India's ongoing challenges on the international stage.

India's men's football team has faced setbacks, failing to advance to the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers after losses to Qatar and Afghanistan. This result marks a continued decline since December last year, when India had briefly broken into the top 100 with a ranking of 99, only to slide downward thereafter. In Asia, India ranks 22nd, positioned behind Lebanon, Palestine, and Vietnam.

On the global stage, Argentina strengthened their top spot after defending their Copa América title. France remains second following their EURO 2024 semi-final appearance, while Spain climbed to third after winning the European Championship. England and Brazil complete the top five, with Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, and Colombia rounding out the top 10.

(With inputs from agencies.)