FIFA World Rankings: INDIA drop to 168th, worst ranking ever

The world football governing body FIFA released the latest FIFA World Rankings earlier today in which India has lost five places to be now ranked 168th amongst the 209 ranked nations and territories, while within Asia India remains 32nd amongst 46 nations in the rankings.

This is India's worst-ever ranking since it was launched! India is 168th in the world rankings behind Lesotho and ahead of neighbours Bangladesh with 106 points, 15 points less then last months ranking.

The countries in South Asia are ranked as low as never before in the world rankings. Amongst the South Asian nations India remain fourth behind the Maldives (161st), Nepal (162nd), Afghanistan (164th), but ahead of Bangladesh (169th), Pakistan (176th), Sri Lanka (179st) and Bhutan (206th).

Team India under new coach Wim Koevermans now play the Nehru Cup later this month in New Delhi, but it is not clear if all their matches against Cameroon, Syria, the Maldives and Nepal will be 'A' internationals and then counted for the rankings.

Meanwhile there has been only one change amongst the top five of the FIFA World Rankings. World champions Spain (1,605 points) stay at the top with Germany (1,474) remaining second, but England (1,294) move into third by exchanging spots with Uruguay (1,236), while Portugal (1,213) remain fifth.