The year 2025 proved to be one of contrasts for Indian women football on the global ranking charts, particularly for the Indian Women’s National Team.
While the Blue Tigresses achieved a historic competitive milestone by qualifying for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup on merit, their FIFA World Ranking slipped to 67th by the end of the year, underlining the complexity of progress in modern international football. At the start of 2025, India were hovering around the mid-60s in the FIFA rankings, still recovering from an inconsistent 2024. Over the course of the year, the team played 13 international matches, winning seven and losing six, a mixed record that translated into fluctuating ranking movement rather than sustained upward momentum .
Ranking trajectory through the year
India began the year at 65th, but early losses in international tournaments such as the Pink Ladies Cup against higher-ranked sides resulted in a slide to 68th by March. The situation worsened mid-year when India briefly dropped to 70th, marking their lowest position of the calendar year .
A partial recovery followed during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers held in Chiang Mai, Thailand. India won all four matches in dominant fashion, including a historic 2–1 victory over hosts Thailand, who were ranked significantly higher at the time. That qualification run allowed India to regain some lost ground, finishing 2025 at 67th in the FIFA rankings.
While the late-year rise offered encouragement, the broader trend showed stagnation rather than sustained growth. India ended 2025 ranked four places lower than their best position during the cycle.
Qualification success vs ranking reality
The defining achievement of 2025 was India’s first merit-based qualification for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 23 years. Dominant wins over Mongolia (13–0), Timor-Leste (4–0), Iraq (5–0) and the decisive victory against Thailand represented a major competitive breakthrough.
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However, FIFA’s ranking algorithm places heavier weight on matches against similarly or higher-ranked opponents. While India accumulated goals and confidence against lower-ranked sides, subsequent losses to Iran and Nepal in the October Tri-Nation Friendlies proved costly. Those defeats, especially at home, erased much of the points gained during qualification. This contrast explains the paradox of 2025: India qualified for Asia’s biggest tournament but still slipped in global rankings.
Another key factor influencing India’s ranking trajectory was the transition phase under head coach Crispin Chettri, appointed in early 2025. Chettri initiated structural changes, introducing a pragmatic system focused on defensive shape, physical conditioning, and controlled build-up play. The shift delivered short-term success in qualification football but exposed limitations against tactically disciplined teams. Matches against Iran and Nepal highlighted gaps in midfield compactness, defensive coordination, and game management under pressure, areas that directly impacted ranking-relevant results.
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From a numbers perspective, India scored 39 goals and conceded 16 across 13 matches in 2025, producing a healthy overall goal difference. However, the data becomes less flattering when filtered against stronger opposition. Against teams ranked inside the top 80, India averaged less than one goal per match, a clear indicator of the challenge ahead at elite Asian level.
The ranking decline, therefore, was not a reflection of poor attacking output, but of inefficiency in high-leverage fixtures.
The Indian Women’s League (IWL) 2025–26 played a growing role in sustaining India’s ranking stability. Structural reforms, centralized venues, and increased competitiveness helped broaden the national team pipeline. Performers like Pyari Xaxa, who carried her international form into the domestic league, emerged as key contributors to India’s attacking depth. Yet, domestic progress alone cannot offset ranking losses without consistent international exposure against stronger nations.
India remained the highest-ranked team in South Asia, but the gap narrowed significantly. Bangladesh and Nepal both showed ranking improvements in 2025, with Nepal notably defeating India in Shillong. Regionally, India’s dominance is no longer assured, adding pressure to convert qualification success into sustained ranking growth .
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India’s 67th-place finish in 2025 positions them at a crossroads. The ranking reflects a team that has moved beyond symbolic participation but has not yet translated qualification success into global credibility. The 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup now becomes the most important ranking battleground.
With matches scheduled against Japan, Vietnam, and Chinese Taipei, India will face ranking-defining opportunities where competitive performances win or lose can significantly reshape their global standing. In summary, India’s football ranking in 2025 tells a story of earned progress and exposed limitations. The foundation has been laid through merit-based qualification and structural reform.
Whether that translates into a sustained climb up the FIFA rankings will depend on India’s ability to compete, not just qualify, at Asia’s highest level.
