The Indian men’s football team has hit rock bottom, sliding to 127th in the latest FIFA Rankings. It’s a painful descent that tells a story of missed opportunities and struggling performance. Just last December, we were sitting pretty at 100th. Now? We’ve tumbled down, marking our worst ranking in over seven years. It shouldn’t be surprising either, with India failing to win a single game since November 2023.
India deserves to be at the 127th FIFA Ranking?
Let’s break down the grim reality. The team hasn’t tasted victory in 12 matches. Their last win? A solitary 1-0 against Kuwait back in November 2023. Since then, it’s been nothing but disappointment—five draws and seven losses. The recent 1-1 draw against Malaysia is just another chapter in this ongoing saga.
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AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey isn’t sitting idle. He’s been talking big, meeting with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya about a grand plan to crack the top 50 in the next decade. Ambitious? Absolutely. Realistic? That’s another question. “An elaborate plan has to be chalked out and put in place for execution so that India can reach a FIFA ranking below 50 in the next ten years,” said Mansukh at the event recently. Back in February 1996, India touched its peak at 94th. Now, we’re scraping the bottom at 127th. It’s a far cry from the footballing dreams we’ve been chasing.
The team’s Spanish coach, Manolo Marquez, has his work cut out. With Argentina, France, and Spain dominating the global football scene, India feels light years away from competitive football. The road ahead is tough. We need more than just talk of academies and plans. We need grassroots development, better training, and a complete overhaul of our football ecosystem. For now, 127th is more than a number. It’s a wake-up call for Indian football.
