FIFA World Cup 2026: Nepal’s Qualification Journey Remains Memorable
Image source, ANFA
The world football governing body FIFA organizes the ultimate continental competition known as the ‘FIFA World Cup,’ where each member nation strives for qualification.
Nepal has also been attempting to qualify for this prestigious tournament for over 40 years. However, it is clear that reaching the final stages of the World Cup is no easy feat for any country.
Teams must navigate rigorous, multi-stage qualification processes designed by FIFA, which differ according to continental quotas and regulations.
Nepal began competing in World Cup qualifiers starting from the 1986 tournament. During this period, Nepal has participated in nine qualifying campaigns and has succeeded in reaching the second round of the Asian qualifiers.
Throughout the last four decades, Nepal’s qualification journey has been marked by significant ups and downs. The FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers were equally turbulent and memorable.
Nepal’s recent qualification journey was characterized more by controversy, ineffective results, and the pain of not being able to play home matches than by on-field competition.
Image source, ANFA
How Did Nepal Perform in the Qualifiers?
Nepal began its qualification campaign on October 12, 2023 (2080 Ashoj 25 in the Nepali calendar) and successfully completed the first round. After eight months of effort, they were eliminated from the competition.
According to FIFA regulations, lower-ranked Asian nations must play a preliminary “play-off” round before entering the main group draw. Nepal faced their Southeast Asian rivals Laos in a home-and-away format.
On October 12, Nepal played their home leg at the Dashrath Rangasala stadium, which ended in a 1-1 draw with goals from Nepal’s Anjan Bist. The following week, Nepal secured a 1-0 away victory in Laos courtesy of a goal by Manish Dhangi.
With an aggregate score of 2-1, Nepal advanced to the second round.
Image source, ANFA
Among the 36 Asian teams that reached the second round, Nepal was placed in Group H, competing against the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Yemen.
Although Nepal had, in past campaigns, held South Korea to a draw or achieved a hat-trick win over Macau, their performance in this second round was rather average.
Football analyst Sanjiv Mishra commented, “Internal conflicts, irregularities among players, and the inability to play on home turf hindered the players from performing freely.”
Out of the six matches—which included home and away fixtures against three countries—Nepal lost five games.
Their results included three heavy defeats of 4-0, 4-0 to UAE; 5-0, 3-0 to Bahrain; and losses plus a draw (2-0, 2-2) against Yemen.
The sole positive result over these disappointing eight months was the draw against Yemen, where Sanjiv Bista and Gillespie Jung Karki scored for Nepal.
Image source, NSC
The Pain of Not Playing Home Matches
Nepal managed to play the playoff matches against Laos and one match against Yemen at the Dashrath Rangasala stadium in Kathmandu.
However, they were unable to host the remaining fixtures at home.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) deemed the pitch condition, floodlights, and security arrangements at Dashrath Rangasala as inadequate for international matches.
It was surprising that the stadium was declared unfit right after hosting two matches. The conflict between the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) and the National Sports Council (RHEP) mainly contributed to the failure to improve the stadium facilities.
A home match against Bahrain was scheduled at Dashrath Rangasala on March 21, 2024 (2080 Chait 8), but following the AFC’s report, Bahrain was allowed to host both matches on their home ground.
At the time, some accused ANFA of unwillingness to host home matches. Nepal was not even able to play at neutral venues, which would typically be the alternative.
ANFA spokesperson Suresh Shah stated, “We proposed four possible venues – Bhutan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Bahrain. However, the AFC granted permission to play both fixtures in Bahrain.”
This issue caused considerable uproar in the sports community and even drew discussions in parliament.
Despite Bahrain hosting the matches, two months later on June 6, 2024 (2081 Jestha 24), ANFA also failed to organize the home match against the UAE in Kathmandu.
The reason again was Nepal’s inability to maintain the stadium properly.
Officials from RHEP and ANFA exchanged accusations, blaming each other for the lack of cooperation.
Former RHEP Secretary Tank Lal Ghising explained, “ANFA did not provide RHEP with match-related information. They were also unaware of competition schedules and necessary preparations.”
Officials from ANFA claimed that RHEP deliberately neglected its responsibilities.
Since matches could not be held at Dashrath Rangasala, matches were played at the Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Playing at home before local supporters often raises the chance of better results, a reality that players are unable to exploit in away matches.
Overall, Nepal’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying journey was marked by the players’ inability to perform with high energy and the supporters’ lost opportunity to boost their enthusiasm on home soil. Ultimately, the qualifiers became a painful memory of defeat for Nepal’s football team.
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