Pakistan Football Team FIFA Ranking Explained Clearly

28 August 2025

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If you're a football fan in Pakistan, you’ve probably come across headlines that the Pakistan Football Team is ranked shockingly low in the FIFA World Rankings. As of July 2025, Pakistan sits at 201st place out of 211 nations — a ranking that’s sparked frustration, confusion, and plenty of debate among fans and analysts alike.

But what does this number really mean? How is it calculated? And more importantly — why is Pakistan so low on the global football scale despite having passionate fans and a growing football culture?

In this blog, we’re going to break it all down in the simplest way possible. We’ll explore how FIFA rankings actually work, what factors are considered, and how every win or loss affects a country’s position. Then we’ll look specifically at Pakistan’s ranking journey — from its highest points in the ‘90s to its current struggles. Whether you're a casual viewer or a die-hard fan, by the end of this post, you’ll have a clear understanding of where things stand and what needs to change.

This isn’t just about numbers on a chart. Pakistan’s FIFA ranking reflects deeper issues — from inconsistent team performance to mismanagement at the federation level. But it also shows potential. With the right decisions, better coaching, and support from fans and sponsors, things can improve.

So, let’s kick off this journey by first understanding how FIFA’s ranking system works — because once you get that, the rest of the picture becomes a lot clearer.

How FIFA World Rankings Are Calculated

When people hear that a country like Pakistan is ranked 201st by FIFA, the immediate question is: how does FIFA decide these rankings? It’s not random — there’s actually a detailed formula behind it, and it’s based on more than just winning or losing a match.

The Elo-Based Points System

Since August 2018, FIFA has used a system based on the Elo rating method, which is similar to how chess players are ranked. This system replaced the older model that was often criticized for being too complicated and inaccurate.

Here’s the simplified formula FIFA now uses:

$Pnew=Pbefore+I×(W−We)\text{P}_{\text{new}} = \text{P}_{\text{before}} + I \times (W - W_e)$

Let’s break that down:

Pnew: Your team’s new points total after the match.
Pbefore: Your team’s points before the match.
I: Importance of the match (e.g., friendly vs. World Cup).
W: The actual result (1 for win, 0.5 for draw, 0 for loss).
We: The expected result, based on both teams’ ratings.

Example:

If Pakistan plays a friendly match against a stronger team like Jordan and wins, they’ll gain more points because the expected result (We) was low — they were expected to lose. The surprise win boosts their ranking significantly.

On the other hand, if Pakistan loses to a much weaker team like Cambodia, it hurts the ranking more — because they were expected to win or at least draw.

Factors That Influence a Team’s Ranking

Several important elements are factored into the Elo calculation:

Match Result
Win, draw, or loss — the core of the calculation.
Match Importance (I)
Not all matches are equal. Here’s how FIFA values different match types:
- Friendlies: I = 10
- Qualifiers (World Cup, Continental): I = 25
- Continental Finals: I = 35
- World Cup Matches: I = 60
Opponent Strength
Beating a higher-ranked team gains more points; losing to a lower-ranked team loses more.
Confederation Weighting
While this matters less now than before, stronger confederations (like UEFA or CONMEBOL) still carry more weight in the expected outcome.

So, for Pakistan to climb the rankings, it’s not just about winning — it’s about who they beat, in what context, and how often.

Pakistan’s FIFA Ranking: The Rise and Fall

When you look at the current number — 201st in the world — it’s easy to feel discouraged. But understanding how Pakistan got here requires a look at both history and recent developments.

Historical Highs and Lows

Believe it or not, Pakistan hasn’t always been this low in the rankings.

Highest ranking ever: 141st in February 1994.
Previous lowest: 205th in June 2019.
Current ranking: 201st as of July 2025, with 829 FIFA points.

The 1990s saw a relatively more stable period, though still not among Asia’s elite. Since then, however, the team's position has steadily declined, with only brief moments of improvement.

For example, in late 2023, a key victory against Cambodia gave a temporary boost, helping Pakistan qualify for the second round of FIFA World Cup qualifiers. But this was short-lived due to a series of poor performances in 2024 and 2025 — including a crushing defeat to Myanmar, which significantly impacted their points tally.

Reasons Behind the Decline

So, why is the Pakistan national football team performing so poorly in the rankings?

1. Lack of International Matches

For years, Pakistan played very few FIFA-sanctioned matches due to internal disputes and administrative disarray. No matches = no chances to earn points.

2. Governance & Federation Issues

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has faced multiple suspensions by FIFA over political interference and mismanagement. This led to a halt in funding, development, and player opportunities — severely damaging progress.

3. Poor Match Results

Even when matches were played, Pakistan often lost — especially against teams they were expected to beat. Losses against Myanmar, Nepal, and similar opponents had a high negative impact on the ranking.

4. Coaching Instability & Lack of Development

Frequent coaching changes, including gaps with no official coach, have hurt player consistency and performance. Recent hiring of Stephen Constantine, a seasoned coach, is a positive sign — but it will take time for results to show.

5. Contrast With Women’s Team

Interestingly, Pakistan’s women’s national team has shown progress — improving their ranking and participation over the last couple of years. This contrast highlights how consistent management and investment can yield results.

Pakistan’s current ranking isn’t just a reflection of performance — it’s a mirror of systemic challenges, missed opportunities, and long-term neglect of the sport. However, the potential for improvement still exists.

Conclusion

Pakistan’s FIFA ranking — currently standing at 201st out of 211 — might seem like just another depressing sports statistic, but it tells a much deeper story. It’s a reflection of decades of underinvestment, internal conflicts, and a lack of consistent leadership in one of the most popular sports globally.

We’ve seen how FIFA’s ranking system works — a complex but logical calculation based on performance, match importance, and opponent strength. It’s designed to reward consistency, competitiveness, and strategic match planning. Unfortunately, Pakistan hasn’t been able to check many of those boxes in recent years.

But this isn't the end of the road.

With the appointment of Stephen Constantine and a renewed focus on youth development, there’s hope that Pakistani football can rise again. The fact that the women’s national team is climbing the rankings while the men’s team struggles shows that progress is possible — but it requires investment, stability, and vision.

Football in Pakistan isn’t short on fans. Stadiums come alive during local league matches, and social media erupts when the national team takes the field — even if the results disappoint. This passion is the foundation on which a real football culture can be rebuilt.

So what’s the takeaway?

The ranking isn’t permanent. It’s just a snapshot in time.
Improvement is possible, but it must start from the grassroots — proper governance, steady coaching, regular matches, and talent development.
Fans matter — awareness, pressure, and support can push authorities to act.

The road back to the top 150 — or even the top 100 — won’t be easy, but it’s far from impossible. With time, effort, and accountability, the Pakistan football team can rewrite its story.