Dhaka, Oct 18 (V7N) — Bangladesh have made a positive stride in the latest FIFA world rankings following a spirited performance in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. Despite losing the first leg against Hong Kong, the men in red and green bounced back with a determined draw in the return fixture held in Hong Kong, earning them valuable ranking points.
 
According to the updated FIFA rankings released on Friday, October 17, Bangladesh climbed one place to stand at 183rd globally. The team’s improved performance under pressure has been praised by football analysts, who noted their growing tactical discipline and resilience on the field.
 
Meanwhile, Argentina have also moved up one spot to second position after winning back-to-back friendly matches against Venezuela and Puerto Rico. The reigning world champions, who briefly slipped to third in the previous update, now trail Spain — who continue to hold the top position — by five ranking points.
 
Brazil, however, dropped one place to seventh despite a win over South Korea, as they suffered a narrow defeat to Japan during the recent FIFA international window. France fell to third, while England and Portugal retained their fourth and fifth spots, respectively.
 
The Netherlands climbed to sixth, Belgium remained eighth, and Italy rose to ninth place. Germany recorded the biggest jump within the top ten, gaining two places to re-enter the elite group.
 
For Bangladesh, the steady improvement reflects growing potential in their national squad and renewed optimism ahead of the next phase of Asian Cup qualifiers. Football experts believe that consistent performances and better exposure against stronger opponents could further enhance Bangladesh’s global standing in the coming months.
 
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