India move up three spots to 147th in the FIFA Rankings

Photo Credit: AIFF Media

The Indian national football team has moved up three spots to 147, a position that they share with Hong Kong, in the FIFA rankings after its latest release on Thursday. In Asia though, India have dropped one place to 26th.

India had jumped 24 places in March following wins over Chinese Taipei (2-1) and Guam (4-0) in the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers, but failed to qualify for the tournament after losing the last qualifying match 1-0 against hosts Myanmar.

They haven’t been in action since then and their ranking had dropped in April and May but this time it has improved by three spots.

Wim Koevermans’s side were supposed to be in action in June against Bangladesh and Pakistan at Fulham’s Craven Cottage in West London but both international friendlies eventually got cancelled.

India are scheduled to play two friendlies in September against Philippines on 6th and Malaysia on 10th but those fixtures too could get cancelled as the SAFF Cup will take place in Nepal between September 1-11 and the AIFF is yet to decide whether they want to send an under-23 side, like in the 2009 edition.

The next release of the FIFA Rankings is scheduled for July 4.