The Indian national football team’s struggles in the FIFA rankings continue as the Blue Tigers dropped one position to 134th in the latest edition released on Thursday, September 18, 2025. This decline comes as a disappointing surprise to fans who expected an upward trajectory following India’s historic third-place finish in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 under new head coach Khalid Jamil.
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CAFA Nations Cup Success Fails to Translate
Despite achieving their first-ever bronze medal in the eight-nation CAFA Nations Cup tournament, India’s FIFA rankings trajectory remained downward. The team’s performance in the competition included a historic victory over hosts Tajikistan, their first win against the Central Asian nation in 17 years, demonstrating the potential within Khalid Jamil’s squad.
However, the FIFA ranking system’s complex calculations worked against India’s cause. The team’s goalless draw with Afghanistan and the way penalty shootout victories are calculated in the rankings contributed to their continued slide.
India’s Recent FIFA Rankings Trajectory
| Date | Position | Change | Points | Key Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | 134th | ↓1 | 1110.45 | CAFA Nations Cup campaign |
| July 2025 | 133rd | ↓6 | 1113.22 | Losses to Thailand, Hong Kong |
| April 2025 | 127th | – | 1132.03 | Pre-CAFA ranking |
| Best Ever | 94th | – | – | February 1996 |
Afghanistan Draw Proves Costly
The most significant factor in India’s ranking decline was the goalless stalemate against Afghanistan in the CAFA Nations Cup group stage. This result has been identified as the primary reason behind India dropping in the FIFA rankings, as a victory would have potentially boosted their position significantly.
Afghanistan, ranked lower than India in the FIFA hierarchy, represented an opportunity for the Blue Tigers to gain valuable ranking points. The failure to secure three points against a supposedly weaker opponent cost India dearly in FIFA’s complex Elo-based rating system.
Penalty Victory Against Oman Goes Unrewarded
Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of India’s ranking decline is how their bronze medal victory was calculated. The Blue Tigers defeated Oman in the third-place playoff, but only after a penalty shootout. Under FIFA’s ranking methodology, only the regulation time result is considered, meaning India’s 0-0 draw with Oman was counted rather than their eventual victory.
This technicality proved particularly costly given that Oman ranks significantly higher than India in the FIFA standings. A regulation-time victory would have provided substantial ranking points and likely resulted in an upward movement rather than a decline.
Global Rankings Shake-Up: Spain Returns to Summit
While India’s ranking woes continue, the global FIFA rankings witnessed a dramatic transformation at the top. Spain reclaimed the number one position for the first time in 11 years, ending Argentina’s reign that had lasted since April 2023.
Top 10 FIFA Rankings – September 2025
| Rank | Country | Points | Previous Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 1845.20 | 2 | ↑1 |
| 2 | France | 1840.59 | 3 | ↑1 |
| 3 | Argentina | 1835.12 | 1 | ↓2 |
| 4 | England | 1817.28 | 4 | – |
| 5 | Portugal | 1779.55 | 6 | ↑1 |
| 6 | Brazil | 1761.60 | 5 | ↓1 |
| 7 | Netherlands | 1754.17 | 7 | – |
| 8 | Belgium | 1740.62 | 8 | – |
| 9 | Germany | 1700.71 | 9 | – |
| 10 | Croatia | 1695.31 | 10 | – |
Spain’s rise to the top comes on the back of an impressive 27-match unbeaten run, the second-longest in the nation’s history. The European champions have not lost an official fixture since March 23, 2023, demonstrating the consistency that has propelled them back to the summit.
Jamil’s Positive Outlook Despite Rankings Setback
New head coach Khalid Jamil has chosen to focus on the positives from the CAFA Nations Cup campaign rather than dwelling on the FIFA ranking decline. The coach emphasized that India “punched above their weight” in the competition, particularly considering the relatively inexperienced squad and limited preparation time.
Jamil’s approach reflects a broader understanding that FIFA rankings, while important for seeding and prestige, don’t always capture the nuanced improvements in team performance and tactical development. The coach’s emphasis on building upon the tournament’s positives suggests a long-term vision that extends beyond ranking positions.
Historical Context: Nine-Year Low Point
India’s current 134th position represents their lowest ranking in nine years, with the team having previously dropped to 135th in December 2016. This historical context emphasizes the severity of the current situation and the challenge facing Jamil as he attempts to rebuild the program.
The team’s best-ever FIFA ranking was 94th in February 1996, a position that seems increasingly distant given the current trajectory. The gap between India’s peak ranking and current position illustrates the long-term challenges facing Indian football development.
AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers: Critical Upcoming Tests
India’s next opportunity to arrest their ranking slide comes in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers against Singapore on October 9 and 14, 2025. These fixtures represent crucial opportunities for Jamil’s team to secure positive results that could halt the downward trajectory.
Singapore, currently ranked in a similar range to India, presents both an opportunity and a potential pitfall. Positive results in both matches would provide valuable ranking points and restore confidence ahead of the broader Asian Cup qualifying campaign.
The away fixture in Singapore on October 9 will be followed by a home match in Margao on October 14, giving India the advantage of playing in familiar conditions for the second encounter.
Systemic Challenges in Indian Football
The continued decline in FIFA rankings reflects broader systemic challenges within Indian football. The recent coaching change, with Khalid Jamil replacing Manolo Marquez after disappointing results against Thailand and Hong Kong, indicates the instability that has characterized the national team setup.
Under previous coach Marquez, India managed just one victory in eight outings, highlighting the performance issues that have contributed to the ranking decline. The return of legendary striker Sunil Chhetri to the squad has done little to change the team’s fortunes, suggesting that the problems run deeper than individual personnel.
Looking Forward: Building for the Future
Despite the current challenges, there are reasons for cautious optimism within Indian football. Jamil’s appointment brings fresh tactical perspectives, while the CAFA Nations Cup campaign demonstrated that India can compete effectively against regional opponents when properly prepared and motivated.
The emphasis on youth development and infrastructure improvement within Indian football provides hope for long-term improvement, even as short-term ranking fluctuations continue to disappoint supporters.
The upcoming Singapore fixtures will provide an early indication of whether Jamil can reverse the ranking decline and restore confidence within the Indian football ecosystem. Success in these matches could serve as a foundation for more ambitious goals in future competitions.
As India continues to navigate the complex world of international football rankings, the focus must remain on sustainable development, tactical improvement, and creating a system that can consistently produce positive results against similarly ranked opponents. Only through such systematic changes can the Blue Tigers hope to reverse their current ranking slide and return to more respectable positions in the global football hierarchy.
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FAQs
What is India’s current FIFA ranking position?
India is currently ranked 134th in the FIFA rankings as of September 2025, dropping one position from their previous 133rd place.
Why did India drop in FIFA rankings despite CAFA Nations Cup success?
India’s ranking decline was primarily due to a goalless draw with Afghanistan and the fact that their penalty shootout victory over Oman only counted as a 0-0 draw in FIFA’s ranking calculations.
When was India’s best-ever FIFA ranking?
India achieved their highest-ever FIFA ranking of 94th in February 1996, making their current 134th position their lowest in nine years.
Which country currently tops the FIFA rankings?
Spain tops the latest FIFA rankings, returning to the number one position for the first time in 11 years, followed by France and Argentina.
When are India’s next international matches?
India will face Singapore in AFC Asian Cup qualifiers on October 9 (away) and October 14, 2025 (home in Margao), providing opportunities to improve their ranking position.
