It is an all-time low for Indian football as they now hit the 136th position in the FIFA Rankings. This is the worst in almost a decade, as India has slipped to an all-time low position. This is a very disappointing day for both Indian football fans and the team. This also comes amid their disqualification from the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and 2026 World Cup. Chhetri, in a press interaction, said, “We can’t expect international success if our domestic setup doesn’t nurture consistency. Young players need more exposure and better competition. Otherwise, these ranking drops will keep happening.”

Tough Times for Indian Football: Ranking Drop Reflects Deepening Crisis

The last few months have been quite tough for the Indian team, especially after losses and eliminations. The last match against Singapore was the last nail in the coffin. The 2-1 loss kicked them out of the qualifying race and was a major blow to their morale. Sandesh Jhinghan said, "It hurts to see our ranking fall like this. We all take responsibility—the players, the staff, and the system. We’ll fight to bring Indian football back where it belongs," through a tweet. The loss against Hong Kong was another setback toward qualifying for the Asian Cup. The management and the board had their own problems and clashes all along.

Fans Voice Frustration as Neglect and Poor Planning Haunt Indian Football

This shows the state of Indian football at this point, and it is really sad to see that. A lot of fans have also shown anger online, with one such comment saying, “We can’t keep blaming coaches. We need a long-term plan—grassroots first, results later.” Sadly, this is not the first time this is happening, but it has happened repeatedly. A country that focuses more on cricket often ignores a sport like football. The lack of youth and new-generation players is also a factor that comes into play. There needs to be a total revamp in the playing style to save Indian football from perishing.