The Indian Football Team had a dismal outing at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, suffering three consecutive losses without securing a single victory throughout the tournament. They failed to find the back of the net in any of their group-stage matches, exacerbating their woes.
Following their poor performance, India’s FIFA ranking plummeted, dropping by 15 places and losing 35.57 points in the process. They have now lost the most FIFA ranking points of any AFC Asian Cup squad.
Their ranking nosedived from 102 before the tournament to a disappointing 117, marking their lowest position since 2017, a sharp contrast to their peak that year at 96.
Throughout the AFC Asian Cup, India’s ranking spiralled downward with each match, reflecting their inability to score goals and secure favourable results. Their troubles began with a 0-2 defeat against Australia, resulting in a four-place drop to 106 in the rankings.
Subsequent losses to Uzbekistan and Syria further contributed to their decline, with India slipping to 111 after the Uzbekistan match and dropping six more places following the defeat against Syria. This cumulative drop of 15 places underscores the magnitude of their setback in the tournament.
Notably, this ranking represents India’s lowest position since 2017, marking a significant departure from their standing under Igor Stimac’s leadership, where they had consistently remained above 109.