Football was first introduced to Nepal around the mid-1900’s by the members of the Rana aristocracy that had governed the nation for over a century. Since then, Nepali football has steadily developed, but has yet to make its mark.

Nepal's gold medal winning team at the SAF Games in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Football was by far the most popular sport in Nepal and those of the older generations give accounts of how a seat would never go empty when there was football match being played in the country. However, things have slowly changed.

The success of Nepali athletes in the martial arts, the regional television influences of cricket, and the frequent feuds within the football association and governmental sports bodies have recently, eroded the popularity of football. Optimists though, continue to maintain that football runs in the veins of Nepalis and given all things even, no sport can hold its own with football, in Nepal. They cite how Nepal pretty much shuts-down when the World Cup takes place and how screaming and hollering from almost every house is heard late at night when the matches are broadcasted.

The general consensus would agree that football in Nepal is improving, but at a rate that is far lower than in most other nations. The reasons for this are many.

First and foremost, Nepal is a poor country and survival has always been the number one occupation for most locals, thus neither the government nor the general populace value playing or developing sports.  Also in Nepal, as with most South Asian societies, sports  takes a back seat to education and society often frowns on those who participate in sports. They are believed to be “wasting their time,” by playing sports.

Thousands turn-out for a local club match at the national stadium

Regional factors have also played a large part. Nepal’s topography is not really suited for football and none of its neighbors have a strong footballing pedigree to help boost the game in Nepal.

Finally, corruption, gross negligence, incompetence and a lack of a sports culture are all also factors in the state of the game in Nepal. Many of those who are in the Nepali football sector are in it for personal gain and know little about the sport, thus there is much more emphasis spent on trying to swindle money or power from football than on developing it.

Today Nepal still lacks a proper national league (the club football calendar is made-up of many micro tournaments). Players are amateurs. Club teams do not have training grounds, let alone proper uniforms. And all that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Despite the poor state of football in Nepal, there are many positives. This website is one of them!

Nepal, after the 1994 World Cup, has participated in virtually all international tournaments it is entitled to participate in at the national and youth team levels. There is also far less politicking in player selections, women’s football programs have been established, ANFA started several youth academies, and independent tournaments  have been launched.

It will take time for Nepali football to develop and with the proper planning, determination, and help and support (such as your visit to this website), Nepali football will hopefully see brighter days soon.