After Argentina’s victory in the World Cup 2022 in Qatar in its 22nd edition FIFA announced the new ranking which was highly influenced by the results of this World Cup.

According to the new announcement by FIFA, Iran’s national football team, which was in the group B with England, Wales, and the United States, was heavily defeated by England 6-2, won 2-0  against Wales, and lost narrowly to the United States 1-0, ending its matches in third place while failing to advance to the knockout stages. Iran dropped four places compared to the previous FIFA ranking and stood at 24th place in the world ranking.

The Iranian national team is also no longer the top team in Asia and gave away that rank to Japan, which has performed marvelously as the best among Asian teams. The position of the Iranian and Japanese national football teams was changed both in Asia and in the world. Japan jumped to 20th in World Ranking four ranks above Iran. The gap that is created now means that Iran will be struggling to match the Japanese to regain the top spot. In fact, Iran will have a great challenge from the third rank team Korea Rep. too as it is breathing down Iran’s neck with a difference of 18 points only, Australia in fourth, not far behind, will also threaten to overtake Iran.

The disappointment follows the return of the ineffective and shady Mehdi Taj as the head of the football federation dominated by government loyalists and will continue as the anguished FFIRI are looking to hold on to the perpetual loser, Carlos Queiroz as the head coach of Team Melli post World Cup

The AFC Asian Cup 2023 remains the biggest challenge and barring a miracle, Iran will once again struggle to make it through to the finals or win the trophy back after 47 years.

AFC Rank	World Ranking		Team	Total Points	Previous Points	+/-
1	20		Japan	1593.08	1559.54	33.54
2	24		Iran	1551.73	1564.61	-12.88
3	25		Korea Republic	1539.49	1530.3	9.19
4	27		Australia	1533.97	1488.72	45.25
5	49		Saudi Arabia	1438.13	1437.78	0.35
6	60		Qatar	1393.56	1439.89	-46.33
7	68		Iraq	1342.39	1343.01	-0.62
8	70		United Arab Emirates	1338.48	1337.57	0.91
9	75		Oman	1321.24	1320.29	0.95
10	77		Uzbekistan	1312.64	1309.98	2.66