News / Sports

Iran soccer team place unchanged in latest FIFA rankings

Saturday, 05 March 2016 8:59 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 05 March 2016 8:59 AM ]

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

The national Iranian men’s soccer team has stayed put in the latest edition of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) rankings, nestling in the world’s 44th spot.

According to the latest monthly rankings released by the world’s soccer governing body on Thursday, the Iranian side earned 627 points and upheld its position as the best Asian soccer team.

Other Asian teams were Japan, which climbed two positions to claim the 56th slot in the latest FIFA rankings with 575 points, followed by South Korea and Saudi Arabia, which occupied the 57th and 60th spots respectively with 566 and 562 points.

South Korea slid four places in the global ranking of national soccer teams, while Saudi Arabia plunged five.

Belgium remains the top-ranked soccer team in the world, with 1,506 points.

Argentina notched 1,457 points to win the second position, while third-place Spain gained 1,374 points. Germany also maintained its place and stood fourth with 1,355 points.

On November 17, 2015, the understaffed Iranian football team put on a sparkling performance 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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