KUALA LUMPUR – The national football team have climbed one spot to number 137 in the latest FIFA world rankings.
This is the best position the Harimau Malaya have achieved in the past 17 years since occupying the 127th spot in May 2006.
Based on the www.fifa.com website, the national team garnered 9.44 points from the two Tier 1 international friendlies in Terengganu this month, thus, enabling coach Kim Pan-gon’s charges to accumulate a total of 1,091.57 points.
In the two friendlies held at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Kuala Nerus, Pan Gon’s men defeated the Solomon Islands 4-1 and trounced Papua New Guinea 10-0.
The updated ranking list also sees Malaysia occupying the 24th spot in Asia and fourth position in Southeast Asia behind Vietnam at number 95, Thailand at 113th, and the Philippines at 135th.
Neighbours Indonesia dropped one spot to number 150 while Singapore remained 158th.
Reigning World Cup champions Argentina continue to lead the way in the world rankings, followed by France, Brazil, England, and Belgium.
In Asia, the top five teams are Japan, who are ranked 20th in the world, Iran at 22nd, Australia at 27th, South Korea at 28th, and Saudi Arabia at 53rd.
The Football Association of Malaysia is on a mission to ensure that the Harimau Malaya are in the top-130 bracket by the end of this year. – Bernama, June 29, 2023
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