News / Sports

Iran soccer team slides one place in latest FIFA rankings

Saturday, 06 February 2016 12:31 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 06 February 2016 12:30 PM ]

The national Iranian men’s soccer team (file photo)

The national Iranian men’s soccer team has plunged one spot in the latest edition of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) rankings to claim the 44th spot in the world.

According to the latest monthly rankings released by the world’s soccer governing body on Thursday, the Iranian outfit accumulated 626 points and maintained its position as the best Asian soccer team.

Other Asian teams were South Korea, which slid two positions to the 53rd slot in the latest FIFA rankings with 580 points, followed by Saudi Arabia and Japan, which landed in the 55th and 58th spots respectively with 571 and 596 points. Surprisingly, Saudi Arabia moved up twenty places in the global ranking of national soccer teams.

Belgium remains the top-ranked soccer team in the world, with 1,370 points.

Germany bagged 1,347 points to keep the second position, while third-place Chile garnered 1,293 points. Brazil also upheld its place and stood fourth with 1,251 points.

On November 17, 2015, the understaffed Iranian football team put on a sparkling performance yet in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match, conquering the Guam side with an easy six-goal margin.

The Iranian squad, which was missing some players and staffers because of visa issues, brushed aside the hosts 6-0 in its fifth Group D qualifier for the prestigious international association football competition at the Guam Football Association Field in Dededo.

The win lifted the unbeaten Iranian team to 14 points, and landed it at the top of the Group D standings. Iran will face off India on March 24, 2016.

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