KUWAIT CITY, April 4: Kuwait slipped two spots in the latest FIFA rankings released by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) following a series of 174 matches during the recent international break. These matches included the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, the final stage of the CONCACAF Nations League, and friendly matches involving six federations.

Kuwait now stands at 139th place globally, sixth in the Gulf region, 18th in the Arab world, and 25th in Asia. The team's recent performance saw them face their Qatari counterpart in joint qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup, resulting in a 3-0 loss in Doha and a 2-1 defeat in Kuwait.

Among Arab teams, Morocco secured the top spot, followed by Qatar, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE.

Meanwhile, Argentina maintained its position as the top-ranked team globally, with Brazil securing fifth place. Notable changes included the United States, Colombia, and Mexico rising two spots in the rankings.

India's Football Association reaffirmed its trust in Croatian coach Igor Stimac. The Indian Football Federation urged the team to focus on their upcoming matches against Al-Azraq and the Qatari national team in June. These matches are crucial for their participation in the joint qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup. Despite recent setbacks against Afghanistan, the Indian team aims to improve their standing in the qualifiers, with a pivotal match against the Kuwaiti national team ahead on June 6.

Khaled El Anzi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff