NEWS
MATCH REPORTS
STAT SHEET
DIARY
HOT LINKS
SLIDE SHOW
BOOKS & THINGS
PEOPLE
DEAR REDIFF

India improves in world football rankings

Indian football improved on its world rankings, climbing 10 places to reach number 109 in the FIFA/Coca Cola World Cup rankings with 26.50 points.

India has also become the top-ranked side in the subcontinent, while Sri Lanka is next at 136, followed by Bangladesh at 138, Pakistan 152 and Nepal trailing the field at 154. However, Pakistan gained more than India in the latest rankings, its 152nd ranking being an improvement by 21 places.

Among the countries in the Asian Football Confederation, India is in 18th place with Japan leading, Korea ranked second, followed by Saudi Arabia.

Not much has changed in the top 50 rankings, which are dominated by the UEFA countries. Brazil remains at the top, with Spain, Germany, Czech Republic, Romania, Denmark, England, the Netherlands, Russia and Mexico.

So far, this year 747 internationals have been played -- which means the record set last year, of 811 international engagements.