Sri Lanka national football team head coach Abdulla Almutairi says the country’s rise from 205th to 187th in the FIFA rankings over the past two years reflects the steady progress being made within the national football programme.

Following Sri Lanka’s 4-1 victory over Bhutan, Almutairi highlighted improvements in team preparation, professionalism, performances against higher-ranked opponents, and the growing confidence within the squad to compete at a higher level in Asian football.

While acknowledging the passion of Sri Lankan supporters, the coach urged fans to remain patient and focus on the long-term development of the team, stressing that the foundations for future success have been established but that there is still a long journey ahead.

Almutairi called for continued unity and support, expressing confidence that Sri Lankan football is moving in the right direction and that greater achievements can be expected in the future.