The Blue Tigers have climbed to the 96th spot in the latest FIFA rankings, released on Thursday. Stephen Constantine’s men now sit just two places off the nation’s best ranking of 94th, which was achieved in 1996.

This rise in rank is courtesy of FIFA’s new rating system called the Elo. The Elo method adds or subtracts points to a national team’s existing total based on the result of the match, as opposed to the previous system in which a team’s total points were calculated taking into account their average points earned per match.

India’s recent form has been quite impressive, winning three games in the recent Hero Intercontinental Cup, including the 2-0 win over Kenya in the final at the Mumbai Football Arena in June.

With the new system in place, India, who are currently tied with Georgia in the 96th position, have the chance to rise above in the rankings with friendlies slated during the October and November international breaks.

With the AFC Asian Cup 2019 a few months away, Constantine would be hoping for good results and performances in the upcoming matches from the team. India’s AFC Asian Cup campaign kicks off on January 6, 2019, with the Blue Tigers taking on Thailand, followed by a game against UAE on the January 10.

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2018-2019