Top 5 FIFA-ranked teams under AFC

The Samurai Blue have always had the upper hand among their neighbours in the AFC.

When it comes to FIFA rankings, the most underdog stories belong to the countries that are part of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Most recently Japan soared high in the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup, single-handedly defeating Germany and knocking out Spain in some spirited displays. This list is not limited and with the improved exposure to the world of football, it has some brand new competitors. Let us now look at the current top five FIFA-ranked teams under AFC. 

5. Qatar (FIFA Ranking – 37)

This tiny Middle Eastern country is not so diminutive when it comes to footballing prowess. Having been on the fringes of the game due to socio-political upheavals, they bloomed late. But when they did, they had no intention of stopping as they recently made light work of India in the World Cup qualifiers. Qatar rose by a staggering 21 places in the FIFA ranking to secure fifth place in the top five FIFA-ranked teams under AFC. A brilliant AFC Asian Cup campaign that saw them beat heavyweights Iran and Jordan to lift the trophy allowed them to consolidate their current position.  

4. Australia (FIFA Ranking – 23)

The Australian national team has featured talented footballers from Europe’s top flights like Tim Cahill, Matt Ryan, Harry Soutar, and others. Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s Australian signing Jason Cummings recently shared the pitch with Lionel Messi in the 2022 Qatar World Cup group stages. The Socceroos have consistently produced prodigious talents to the high level of competition in the A-League (the country’s first-tier competition in professional football). Australia got to the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup where they were knocked out by Korea Republic but still rose two places in the FIFA rankings.  

3. Korea Republic (FIFA Ranking – 22)

One of the evergreen heavyweights of the Asian continent, the Korea Republic, or the South Korean national football team has churned out its fair share of the game’s legends. Be it the underappreciated Manchester United midfield machine Park Ji-Sung or current Tottenham Hotspurs and national hero Son Heung-Min. The Taegeuk Warriors have more superstars plying their trade in the top five European leagues than any other AFC country like Kim Min-Jae (Bayern Munich), Hwang Hee-Chan (Wolverhampton), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint Germain). Korea Republic made it to the semis of the AFC Asian Cup but were knocked out by Jordan, rising a place in the FIFA rankings.

2. IR Iran (FIFA Ranking – 20)

Iran has been a surprising addition to the top five FIFA-ranked teams under the AFC courtesy of their current crop of players. Led by AEK Athens defender Eshan Hajsafi, Iran also features creative playmaker Alireza Jahanbaksh. However, Iran’s strength is primarily in their unity as well as their attack which is spearheaded by Porto target-man Mehdi Taremi, and Roma sensation Sardar Azmoun. Both Azmoun and Jahanbaksh scored in the semis of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup but Iran still lost to eventual winners Qatar by a 3-2 margin. The Iranian Lions, however, still rose by four places overtaking Korea Republic in the top 5 FIFA ranked teams under the AFC.

1. Japan (FIFA Ranking – 18)

Who else but the magnificent and mythical Samurai Blues adorn the summit of the top five FIFA-ranked teams under the AFC?  Japanese football has been on an upward curve and last year they reached an all-time high with 17th place in the FIFA charts. Their defeat in the AFC Asian Cup quarter-finals to Iran was disappointing, to say the least, leading to their fall in the rankings. However, with world-class players like Liverpool’s star man Wataru Endo, Brighton’s wing-wizard Kaoru Mitoma, and Arsenal’s ambidextrous defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, they are sorted for the foreseeable future.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.