Brazil are now back in the first place for the first time since June 2017, followed by Belgium, France, Argentina and England, making the top 5.
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The Indian national team are now ranked 106th in the latest FIFA men’s rankings released on Thursday. The Blue Tigers were 104th through the previous three editions of the rankings on the back of clinching the SAFF championship title in October 2021. Meanwhile Brazil are now back in the first place for the first time since June 2017, followed by Belgium, France, Argentina, England, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, and the Netherlands, making the top 10.
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Brazil ?? return to the ?, five years after they were last there.
The March 2022 table is not only a new chapter in rankings history, but it will be used to calculate the seeds for tomorrow’s FIFA #WorldCup Qatar 2022 Final Draw.
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) March 31, 2022
Brazil are undefeated in their last eleven games and have won eight of those matches. Their last defeat came up against Argentina in the Copa America final in July. The Selecao secured qualification for Qatar 2022 by toping the ten-team CONMEBOL qualifiers table.
Others that make the list from 11-20 positions are Denmark, Germany, Uruguay, Switzerland, USA, Croatia, Colombia, Wales, Sweden, and Senegal. Nigeria is the third-best African team in the list behind Senegal and Morocco at 30th spot. Behind the Super Eagles are Egypt, Tunisia, and Cameroon in fourth, fifth and sixth place, respectively.
Among the Asian teams, IR Iran remained the top ranked team from AFC, having maintained the 21st spot. Japan and Korea Republic maintained their positions as Asia’s second and third best teams at 23rd and 29th respectively.
After defeating Nepal 3-0 in the SAFF Cup final in October, Igor Stimac’s side didn’t play any matches for more than five months before traveling to Bahrain for two international friendlies in March. The Blue Tigers lost the first game 2-1 to Bahrain and then suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat against Belarus.
These friendlies were arranged in order to prepare for the AFC Asian Cup third round qualifiers to be held in June. India’s first match of the qualifiers is against Cambodia on June 8 before taking on Afghanistan on June 11 and will finish the qualifiers with a match against Hong Kong on june 14.
India achieved its best ever FIFA Ranking of 94 in February 1996. That was the golden period of Indian football, Baichung Bhutia and IM Vijayan formed a lethal strike partnership and spearheaded the team’s charges. The Blue Tigers also won successive SAFF Championships (1997 and 1999) within the period.
Indian football’s development after a debacle started with the introduction of the Indian Super League in 2014. Some big changes were being implemented behind the scenes and after dropping to its lowest ever ranking of 173 in April 2015, the Blue Tigers broke into the top 100 for the first time in 21 years in May 2017.
