FIFA Rankings Released: Where Does Bangladesh Stand?

The latest FIFA rankings for December have brought little surprise for Bangladesh, as the men’s national football team has retained its previous position. According to the newly published list, Bangladesh remains ranked 180th in the world, unchanged from the previous month. While the static ranking may appear uneventful at first glance, a closer examination of the figures reveals subtle but meaningful shifts beneath the surface.

The world football governing body, FIFA, released the updated rankings on Monday. Since there has been no international FIFA window following the Asian Cup qualifiers on 18 November, significant movement across the rankings was largely absent. Bangladesh, like many other nations, did not play any official international matches during this period, resulting in no positional change.

At the top of the global rankings, stability also prevailed. Spain continues to occupy the number one position, reaffirming its dominance in international football. Argentina follows closely in second place, with France, England, and Brazil completing the top five. The lack of change among the elite teams reflects a broader pause in competitive international fixtures.

Although Bangladesh’s ranking remains unchanged, its rating points have experienced a slight decline. In November, Bangladesh held 911.19 points; in December, that figure dipped marginally to 911.10. While the decrease is minimal and insufficient to cause a drop in ranking, it highlights the intense competition among teams in the lower tiers of international football. Notably, Cambodia, ranked just one place above Bangladesh at 179th, has accumulated 911.54 points—only a fraction ahead—underscoring how a single result could dramatically alter positions.

One factor contributing to this minor adjustment relates to a fixture from the November window. Prior to the Asian Cup qualifiers, Bangladesh played a friendly match against Nepal. However, that match was not reflected in the November FIFA rankings. Following clarification, FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) indicated that the necessary adjustment would be made in the December update. The recalculation linked to that fixture is believed to have influenced Bangladesh’s slight dip in rating points.

Nepal’s situation offers an interesting contrast. Despite playing Bangladesh at home and securing a two-goal draw away, Nepal’s rating points increased from 902.44 in November to 902.52 in December. Nevertheless, Nepal’s ranking position remained unchanged, as Belize—ranked 181st—still holds a higher points tally of 910.74.

Overall, the December FIFA rankings convey a message of stability for Bangladesh, but also serve as a reminder of how narrow the margins are at this level of international football. A single win, draw, or defeat can reshape the landscape entirely. As international fixtures resume in the coming months, Bangladesh will have fresh opportunities to break this period of stagnation and improve both its points and standing.

For now, the rankings underscore a simple truth: progress at the international level is incremental, and every match matters.

FIFA Rankings Snapshot (December)