India rise to 21-year high FIFA ranking

As per the updated rankings, India are now placed 100th alongside Lithuania, Nicaragua and Estonia, and stay at the 11th spot in AFC. 

This is India’s best-ever FIFA Ranking since April 1996 when India were also ranked 100. India’s highest FIFA Ranking till date has been 94, achieved in February 1996.

National coach Stephen Constantine stated, “As long as we keep heading up the ladder I am happy. It points out that we are heading in the right direction. There are major matches ahead and we cannot take things lightly. There’s no place for complacency.” 

Historic wins including a 1-0 victory over Myanmar in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers — the first ever win in Myanmar in over 64 years, and India’s first ever win in an away encounter in over a decade where Constantine’s men defeated Cambodia 3-2 in an International Friendly has propelled the Indian team to the rise in the FIFA rankings. 

The National Team have secured victories in 11 of their last 13 matches (including an unofficial match against Bhutan) scoring 31 goals in the process.