Afghanistan remains highest-ranked in FIFA spots

KABUL, riding on their recent rise in football profile, remained the highest-ranked team among South Asian countries by jumping 11 spots to 127^th in the latest FIFA rankings issued on Thursday.

Afghanistan last year defeated Pakistan in a friendly match played in Kabul and won the Asia Challenge Cup title the same year, propelling the side to 131st position from 141st, said an Afghanistan Football Federal official Ali Kazimi.

India gained two places to be at 152nd spot and Iran continued at the top among Asian countries at 42nd, followed by Japan (48th), Uzbekistan (55th), Korea Republic (60th), United Arab Emirates (61st), Australia (63rd), Jordan (66th), Saudi Arabia (75th), Oman (81st) and China (98th).     

Spain remained at the top in overall world rankings followed by Germany, Argentina, Portugal, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Italy, Brazil and Belgium.

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