Nepal has ended the year upgrading its rank to 175th, stepping up six steps in the final FIFA World Ranking for 2005.

Nepal received 153 points along with other south Asian compatriots who also moved up the ranking table. Nepal had slipped down to the 181st position in November, but moved up by beating Bhutan 3-1 in the recently held SAFF Championship.

India topped the south Asian region with a rank of 127th (8 up) while Maldives were 133rd (14 up), Sri Lanka 144th, Pakistan 158th (10 up) and Bangladesh 160th (10 up). Minnows Afghanistan were ranked the 189th position (9 up), ahead of Bhutan at the 190th position (-1).