Which country ranked no 1 in Asian football team?: Asian football has always been in the shadow of European teams. Apart from a few teams that popped their heads in the World Cups earlier, the biggest continent in the world was more miniature to Europe in terms of football. But now there is a flair for change in the sky, especially since the last FIFA World Cup in 2022.
Saudi Arabia’s Emergence into the World Football
It was 2022, and the FIFA World Cup’s Group C match was going to happen. On one side, it is Lionel Messi and Argentina, and on the other side, it is Saudi Arabia’s not-so-popular football team. Everyone predicted Argentina would march past Saudi Arabia pretty seamlessly. But when the match picked up momentum, it was seen that Saudi Arabian players came up with a plan. They were the fearless, hardworking, and mentally superior side on the pitch, neutralizing every Argentinian attack and giving back counters when they got the chance. They humiliated Argentina and went home with a 2-1 win. Though Saudi Arabia couldn’t see past the group stage, their perseverance was noted by the whole world.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Entry to Asia
Who is the most influential person on the planet? You would say without a second thought that it is Ronaldo. Saudi Arabia did brilliant marketing homework and successfully landed Ronaldo last January with a record salary in world football. Many raised their eyebrows over the decisions, and many wrote them off as one-time bloomers. But when the 2023–2024 transfer market opened, Saudi Arabia shocked the whole world by signing top European players, including the current Ballon d’Or holder Benzema, Brazilian star Neymar, Senegal’s Sadio Mane, Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez, and the list goes on.
This summer transfer spring has shifted the eye to Asian football to a large extent. And it would inspire other countries to invest in their football growth.
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Which Country Ranked No 1 in Asian Football Team?
Japan Dominate the Asian Football Rankings
Japan is the number one team in Asia with 1,605.20 points. Iran follows them with 1,561.26 points. On the third spot is South Korea (1,533.02), Australia (1,531.72) and Saudi Arabia sit at the fourth and fifth spots, respectively.
| AFC rank | Rank ↑↓ | Team | Current Point | Prev. Point | Prev. Rank |
| 1 | 19 (↑1) | Japan (JPN) | 1,605.20 (+9.24) | 1,595.96 | 20 |
| 2 | 21 (↑1) | IR Iran (IRN) | 1,561.26 (+4.67) | 1,556.59 | 22 |
| 3 | 26 (↑2) | Korea Republic (KOR) | 1,533.02 (+3.72) | 1,529.30 | 28 |
| 4 | 27 | Australia (AUS) | 1,531.72 (+1.27) | 1,530.45 | 27 |
| 5 | 57 (↓3) | Saudi Arabia (KSA) | 1,412.83 (-8.63) | 1,421.46 | 54 |
| 6 | 61 (↓2) | Qatar (QAT) | 1,389.71 (-5.86) | 1,395.57 | 59 |
| 7 | 69 (↑3) | United Arab Emirates (UAE) | 1,342.43 (+6.15) | 1,336.28 | 72 |
| 8 | 70 | Iraq (IRQ) | 1,342.40 (-2.81) | 1,345.21 | 70 |
| 9 | 73 | Oman (OMA) | 1,334.37 (+1.92) | 1,332.45 | 73 |
| 10 | 75 (↓1) | Uzbekistan (UZB) | 1,328.35 (+0.77) | 1,327.58 | 74 |
| 11 | 79 (↑1) | China PR (CHN) | 1,297.25 (-7.53) | 1,304.78 | 80 |
| 12 | 84 (↓2) | Jordan (JOR) | 1,286.35 (-9.91) | 1,296.26 | 82 |
| 13 | 86 | Bahrain (BHR) | 1,273.54 (-8.51) | 1,282.05 | 86 |
| 14 | 93 (↑1) | Syria (SYR) | 1,245.82 (+4.20) | 1,241.62 | 94 |
| 15 | 94 (↑1) | Vietnam (VIE) | 1,243.14 (+4.91) | 1,238.23 | 95 |
| 16 | 97 | Kyrgyz Republic (KGZ) | 1,228.60 (+3.80) | 1,224.80 | 97 |
| 17 | 98 (↓2) | Palestine (PLE) | 1,224.05 (-8.97) | 1,233.02 | 96 |
| 18 | 102 (↓2) | Lebanon (LBN) | 1,205.56 (-0.21) | 1,205.77 | 100 |
| 19 | 103 (↓4) | India (IND) | 1,204.88 (-3.81) | 1,208.69 | 99 |
| 20 | 110 | Tajikistan (TJK) | 1,183.01 (+3.47) | 1,179.54 | 110 |
Also READ: Which country ranked no 1 in Asian football team?
Where do India Stand in Asia
India was at their career-best 18th rank in Asia and 99 in FIFA’s international ranking. Now they have lost a place and are down to 19. Their astonishing form recently might improve the ranking further. Recently, India won the SAFF championship, beating Kuwait in the final on penalties. They had also won the international cup in June, outclassing Lebanon in the final.
The recent increase in the popularity of football in the country is also a positive note for India. The Indian Super League (ISL) has also helped the team find new talents and become more technically sound.
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