By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – The Nepal National Football Team geared up to face Laos in the initial round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers today. The Dasarath Stadium will be the battleground for the first leg of this double-header, kicking off at 5:30 PM local time.
In the history of their encounters, Nepal has crossed paths with Laos on four occasions. Nepal holding the 175th position in the FIFA rankings, has asserted dominance, securing victory three times, with one match ending in a draw against Laos standing at 186th.
The first meeting between the two nations took place back in 2016, resulting in a 1-1 draw. The second encounter occurred in November later that year during the AFC Solidarity Cup, where Nepal emerged victorious in the shootouts after a 2-2 deadlock and secured a spot in the final.
The PM Three Nations Cup in March also witnessed Nepal’s triumph over Laos. Nepal began their campaign by recording a 2-0 over Laos in the opening match. The teams clashed again in the final, with Nepal overturning a goal deficit to claim victory at 2-1, thanks to Ayush Ghalan and Manish Dangi.
Eager to commence the qualifiers on a positive note, Nepal is focused on securing a home victory in front of passionate fans. The second leg of the first round will shift to Laos on October 17.
Nepal squad:
Goalkeepers: Kiran Kumar Limbu, Deep Karki, Abhishek Baral
Defenders: Sanish Shrestha, Ananta Tamang, Ashish Gurung, Rohit Chand, Anjan Rai, Aashish Chaudhary, Amrit Shrestha
Midfielder: Sudip Gurung, Laken Limbu, Awas Lamichhane, Utsav Rai, Kritish Ratna Chhunju, Manish Dangi, Arik Bista
Forwards: Anjan Bista, Ayush Ghalan, Gillespye Jung Karki, Dinesh Henjan, Hisub Thapaliya, Sanjeeb Bista
