Indian Football Team are on the brink of a greater setback than crashing out of the AFC Asian Cup. India are grappling with a significant drop in FIFA rankings following a dismal performance in Qatar. The Blue Tigers, after concluding the tournament with zero points, zero goals, and zero wins, are likely to find themselves at a disappointing low of 117 in the rankings. Thus marking India’s lowest FIFA ranking since 2017, a stark contrast to their peak that year at 96.
The Asian Cup campaign proved disastrous for India as they faced three consecutive defeats, showcasing a drastic decline from their previous standing. The journey began with a hopeful first-half performance against Australia, but optimism quickly faded in a 2-0 defeat. A humiliating 3-0 loss to Uzbekistan and a 1-0 defeat to Syria sealed India’s fate in the tournament.
This setback is arguably more significant than their performance in the AFC Asian Cup 2023. Before the commencement of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, India held a FIFA ranking of 102. However, following a 2-0 defeat to title favourites Australia, they experienced a drop of four positions, landing at 106. The subsequent match against Uzbekistan added to their woes, resulting in another four-position descent, placing them at 111 in the FIFA rankings.
According to Footy Rankings, the defeat against Syria in 2023 is likely to result in India dropping six positions in the FIFA rankings, settling at 117—their lowest under manager Igor Stimac. However, FIFA is yet to release the official rankings for January. The team’s ranking has steadily declined since the start of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, raising questions about the state of Indian football and the challenges they face in reclaiming international prominence.
Moreover, the disappointing Asian Cup campaign has not only impacted India’s FIFA rankings but has also raised concerns about the team’s overall performance. It underscores the need for strategic planning and improvements within the Indian football ecosystem with crucial World Cup qualifiers against Afghanistan and Qatar at the helm.
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