Doha: In a remarkable surge, Qatar, the two-time Asian champions, have reached their highest-ever position of 34th in the latest FIFA Ranking. This ascent follows their consecutive triumphs against Kuwait in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 joint qualifiers. During the recent international Match Calendar window, 174 matches were contested across the globe. Asian teams engaged in various competitions, including FIFA World Cup 26 qualifiers, while the Concacaf zone witnessed the culmination of the Nations League. Additionally, friendly matches across all six confederations were part of the FIFA Series 2024. Under Marquez Lopez's leadership, Qatar demonstrated dominance with resounding victories over Kuwait, securing a commendable 21-place jump to 37th globally. This remarkable achievement comes on the heels of their successful Asian Cup title defence, during which they claimed victory in seven consecutive matches. Qatar's stellar performance in the joint qualifiers saw them emerge victorious in all four group matches. They notably defeated Afghanistan and India with convincing margins of 8-1 and 3-0, respectively. Their exceptional display propelled them to the third round of World Cup qualifiers and secured their berth for the Asian Cup. Japan maintained their stronghold as Asia's leading team, holding firm at 18th place, followed closely by the Islamic Republic of Iran at 20th. However, the Korean Republic and Australia each dropped a spot, landing at 23rd and 24th, respectively. Qatar now ranks fifth in Asia, followed closely by Saudi Arabia in sixth place (53rd) and Iraq in 58th. Uzbekistan holds the eighth position (64th), with the United Arab Emirates (67th) and Jordan (71st) following suit. Afghanistan, alongside Indonesia, also made noteworthy advancements, leaping seven spots to 151st. At the global level, Argentina maintains its top spot, leading the pack ahead of France. Belgium's rise to third place displaces England, now fourth, while Brazil completes the top five. Portugal's upward trajectory sees them knocking on the door at sixth place.