India’s FIFA rating took a nosedive to 122 immediately after suffering a defeat to Afghanistan, who ended up put at 151st position, on Tuesday. The match, section of the 2026 FIFA Planet Cup qualification, observed India experiencing off against Afghanistan in a fiercely contested battle at Guwahati.
The present ranking marks a stark contrast to India’s prior FIFA position of 101 when Stimac assumed charge, highlighting the difficulties confronted by the staff in recent moments.
India, beneath the management of coach Stimac, entered the match with aspirations of securing a essential victory to enhance their rankings. Having said that, irrespective of a promising get started which observed India taking the direct in the 37th moment via a penalty converted by captain Sunil Chhetri, Afghanistan mounted a established comeback in the next 50 %.
Rahmat Akbari’s intention in the 71st minute restored parity for Afghanistan, environment the stage for a tense finale. With both teams vying for supremacy, Afghanistan seized the initiative in the dying times of the recreation, capitalizing on a penalty awarded in the 87th moment to clinch a 2-1 victory.
Sheriff Mohammed’s composed end from the place kick dashed India’s hopes of salvaging a attract and handed Afghanistan a unforgettable triumph. The consequence not only secured a few useful points for Afghanistan but also propelled them up the FIFA rankings, whilst concurrently dealing a significant blow to India’s Earth Cup qualification prospects.
In spite of India’s spirited performance, Afghanistan’s resilience and resolve in the end proved decisive, underscoring their emergence as a formidable force in international soccer.