S. Korea drop to No. 25 in FIFA rankings following 2 consecutive losses | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
South Korea opened the year at No. 22 but suffered the biggest drop among the top-30 nations after losing to Ivory Coast 4-0 and to Austria 1-0 during the March international match window. Son Heung-min (2nd from L) and Lee Jae-sung (R) of South Korea react to a missed opportunity by Son during a friendly football match against Austria at Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna on March 31, 2026. (Yonhap) Japan moved up a notch after defeating Scotland and England in March. The next update for the rankings will come on June 10, following the end of the last international window prior to the World Cup. jeeho@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles Defiant Son Heung-min rejects decline narrative S. Korea blanked by Ivory Coast in 1st match of World Cup year MORE (+3) CLOSE Keywords #football #World Cup Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Most Saved Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Most Viewed All Categories (3rd LD) Lee, Prabowo agree to elevate bilateral ties, expand defense industry cooperation Gov't raises energy disruption alert to second-highest level (LEAD) (News Focus) With 'Arirang,' BTS proves endurance beyond long break (2nd LD) Lee asks Indonesia's Prabowo to expand resource cooperation amid Mideast war (LEAD) Lee, Indonesia's Prabowo hold summit talks with eye on defense cooperation Most Viewed More Most Viewed Photos Indonesian president visits S.

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By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) -- On the heels of two consecutive losses, South Korea have dropped three spots to No. 25 in the latest FIFA rankings released Thursday.
South Korea opened the year at No. 22 but suffered the biggest drop among the top-30 nations after
losing to Ivory Coast 4-0
and
to Austria 1-0
during the March international match window.
South Korea remained the third-best country in the Asian Football Confederation, behind Japan (18th) and Iran (21st).
Son Heung-min (2nd from L) and Lee Jae-sung (R) of South Korea react to a missed opportunity by Son during a friendly football match against Austria at Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna on March 31, 2026. (Yonhap)
Japan moved up a notch after defeating Scotland and England in March. Iran split their two March matches, falling to Nigeria 2-1 before routing Costa Rica 5-0.
South Korea will play in Group A at the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Mexico, after climbing a spot to No. 15, are still the top-ranked team in that group. Czechia, following a playoff win to fill the final remaining place in Group A, went up two spots to No. 41. South Africa stayed at No. 60.
The next update for the rankings will come on June 10, following the end of the last international window prior to the World Cup.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)
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S. Korea drop to No. 25 in FIFA rankings following 2 consecutive losses
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S. Korea drop to No. 25 in FIFA rankings following 2 consecutive losses

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- Korea blanked by Ivory Coast in 1st match of World Cup year MORE (+3) CLOSE Keywords #football #World Cup Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Most Saved Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Most Viewed All Categories (3rd LD) Lee, Prabowo agree to elevate bilateral ties, expand defense industry cooperation Gov't raises energy disruption alert to second-highest level (LEAD) (News Focus) With 'Arirang,' BTS proves endurance beyond long break (2nd LD) Lee asks Indonesia's Prabowo to expand resource cooperation amid Mideast war (LEAD) Lee, Indonesia's Prabowo hold summit talks with eye on defense cooperation Most Viewed More Most Viewed Photos Indonesian president visits S.

### Implications
- South Korea will play in Group A at the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
- The next update for the rankings will come on June 10, following the end of the last international window prior to the World Cup. jeeho@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles Defiant Son Heung-min rejects decline narrative S.
- Korea coach pleased with defensive effort in friendly loss to Austria (LEAD) S.
- Korea unable to contain Ivory Coast in dispiriting loss (LEAD) S.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers korea, south, world topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 576.