Malaysia's FIFA ranking is 164, one lower than Bhutan

National football coach Dollah Salleh (left) with FAM Sec Gen Hamidin Amin after the draw for the 2018 World Cup Asia qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. - M. AZHAR ARIF/ The STAR

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s FIFA ranking has dropped to 164 - their worst ever placing this year – which is one rung below the backwater Himalayan nation of Bhutan.

Regardless of the expected brickbats, Malaysia will have to put it aside and concentrate on the 2018 World Cup Asia qualifiers which was revealed on Tuesday. Malaysia have been drawn in Group A with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Palestine, Saudi Arabia and Timor-Leste in the second round, which will be held from June 11 to March 29, 2016.

And national coach Dollah Salleh is hoping to have more time to prepare the team for the challenge ahead.