Less than a week before their 2018 World Cup qualifiers match against Turkmenistan on October 8, the Indian national football team dropped 12 places to be at 167th in the latest FIFA rankings issued today.
Stephen Constantine's side, which take on Turkmenistan on October 8 and Oman on October 13, both away matches, are now at 30th spot in the continent, below the likes of Afghanistan, Myanmar and Guam.
Even small South Pacific nation of Cook Islands, which has a population of less than 20,000, are placed one place above India.
Today's ranking is just four places above the historical low of 171st which India achieved in December last year.
The slump in rankings came as no surprise after the team lost 0-3 to Iran in the World Cup qualifiers last month, extending the team's winless run to five matches.
Among South Asian countries, Bhutan lost nine places to be at 173th spot while Pakistan are at 177th, Bangladesh 182nd and Nepal 190th.
