India rise to 137th in FIFA Rankings after 1-1 draw against 44th ranked Panama
The Blue Tigers climb one place in latest FIFA Rankings.
The Indian football team have moved up to 137th in the latest live FIFA World Ranking following their 1-1 draw against Panama at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on September 25.
India entered the fixture ranked 138th, while Panama occupied the 44th position. The result was significant because of the huge difference in the teams’ rankings.
The Blue Tigers were 94 places below Panama before kick-off, meaning the draw against a much higher-ranked opponent earned the Blue Tigers 3.19 FIFA ranking points.
India’s live tally consequently increased from 1084.93 to 1088.12 points, pushing them one place higher to 137th.
How the Blue Tigers earned points against Panama
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The FIFA Men’s World Ranking takes several factors into account when calculating the points exchanged between teams, including the importance of the match, the relative strength of the opponents and the expected result.
India’s draw against Panama therefore carried greater value than a draw, especially for Khalid Jamil’s men. The Blue Tigers were not expected to get a positive result against a team ranked 44th in the world, making the point particularly valuable in the ranking calculation.
On the pitch, India also made a strong start against the World Cup side. Ryan Williams opened the scoring in the 41st minute, putting the hosts ahead before half-time. Panama responded after the break and eventually found their equaliser through substitute Omar Valencia in the 68th minute.
Omar Valencia produced a powerful dipping effort from outside the box that beat Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and restored the balance. India subsequently had to withstand pressure from Panama but managed to hold on for a 1-1 draw. The result earned the Blue Tigers their 3.19 ranking points and moved them from 138th to 137th in the live standings.
What’s next for the Blue Tigers?
The Blue Tigers now have two more high-profile fixtures ahead of them. India are scheduled to face Brazil on October 3rd, followed by Uruguay on October 6th, with both matches set to take place at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.
The two fixtures will provide India with another opportunity to face significantly higher-ranked opposition and potentially collect further FIFA ranking points.
The next official FIFA ranking update is scheduled for October 7, although the current 137th position remains provisional until FIFA formally validates the relevant matches.
What is India’s latest FIFA Ranking?
India have moved up to 137th in the latest live FIFA World Ranking after their 1-1 draw against Panama.
How many FIFA Ranking points did the Blue Tigers gain against Panama?
India earned 3.19 FIFA ranking points from the draw, taking their tally from 1084.93 to 1088.12 points.
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