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Kathmandu, August 8, 2025 — South Asian women’s football has made headlines worldwide with remarkable performances in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, leading to major ranking shifts in the latest FIFA update.
Nepal Creates History
The Nepal Women’s National Football Team has reached its highest-ever FIFA world ranking, climbing 13 places from 100 to 87. This leap surpasses their previous best of 91 (December 15, 2017).
Nepal’s rise comes after a spirited qualifiers campaign:
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Win vs Sri Lanka
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Win vs Laos
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3-3 draw against 51st-ranked Uzbekistan, before losing 4-2 on penalties
.png "Nepal women's football team celebrating after reaching highest-ever FIFA world ranking of 87 in August 2025")
The comeback against Uzbekistan — led by Sabitra Bhandari’s stunning hat-trick — will be remembered as one of Nepal’s finest performances despite missing out on Asian Cup qualification.
Just last month, Nepal had lost 2-0 in a friendly to Thailand and sat at 100th in the world rankings, making this jump even more remarkable.
South Asia’s Ranking Surge
.png "South Asian nations shine in latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings – August 2025")
The qualifiers have shaken up the regional standings:
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🇧🇩 Bangladesh: +24 (128 → 104) – Historic jump after beating top ranked Myanmar to qualify for the Asian Cup
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🇮🇳 India: +7 (70 → 63) – Impressive win over top ranked Thailand in Group B
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🇳🇵 Nepal: +13 (100 → 87) – Historic highest-ever ranking after outstanding qualifiers run
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🇵🇰 Pakistan: +3 (157 → 154) – Solid performance in recent matches
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🇧🇹 Bhutan: +8 (171 → 163) – Significant improvement on the field
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🇱🇰 Sri Lanka: -2 (159 → 161) – Struggled during qualifiers
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🇲🇻 Maldives: -2 (163 → 165) – Poor run in recent games
Regional Football on the Rise
Bangladesh’s dominant run has made the biggest headlines, while India’s steady climb and Nepal’s historic milestone show that South Asian women’s football is entering a new era of competitiveness.
“We may have missed the Asian Cup, but this match and our new ranking will be remembered forever,” said one proud Nepali fan.
The road to future tournaments looks brighter than ever for South Asia — and Nepal’s achievement stands as a symbol of what determination and unity can achieve.
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