Latest FIFA listing, Azkals reach all-time high ranking

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Azkals soared to their all-time high in the world rankings, placing 127th in the December 2013 listing released by the International Football Federation (Fifa).

The year-end standing illustrated the steady progress of the emerging country, which once stood at a lowly 195th in the monthly rankings.

The Pinoy booters leapt 20 spots up from their position (147th) at the end of 2012. The year 2013 also saw the Azkals post their highest ranking and improve on it several times, from 147 to 145 to 143 to 141 to 137 to 133 and finally 127.

With this, Phl maintained its status as the top nation in Southeast Asia, at least in terms of Fifa ranking. Myanmar is the second best country at 130th followed by Vietnam (144) and Thailand (146).

Interestingly, SEA “top dog” Phl was an absentee in the premiere Under 23 competition of the region, the SEA Games, after failing to “pass” the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission’s criteria for selection of delegates.

The achievement in world rankings is expected to inspire the Azkals as they launch their mission to make it to the 2015 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in Australia.

The Azkals will gun for an Asian Cup berth in next year’s AFC Challenge Cup, where the champion will proceed to Australia against the continent’s top football nations.

The Challenge Cup is slated May 2014 in Maldives, but the AFC is considering a transfer to Manila.

The AFC competitions committee, in its meeting last Nov. 25 in Kuala Lumpur, has  recommended to move the 2014 Challenge Cup to the Phl from Maldives “if the latter did not start required renovation by Dec. 15. In this regard, a representative from the AFC already inspected the Rizal Memorial Stadium last November as possible site.” 

The PFF is waiting for word from the AFC if Maldives has met the Dec. 15 deadline.

Rizal Memorial, the top candidate as main hub if Phl will get hosting, is also in the process of being converted into an artificial turf.

“They (AFC) want to find out what work has been done to the field since their last visit,” PFF president Nonong Araneta said.

Rizal’s administrator, the Philippine Sports Commission, said constructions at the decades-old stadium are expected to be completed by February 2014.