# Football in Nepal

Association football is one of the most popular sports in Nepal. It is governed by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), which oversees the men's and women's national teams as well as club competitions. The present acting president of ANFA is Karma Kshiring Sherpa. The current top domestic league is the Martyr's Memorial A Division league. The Nepal national football team represents Nepal in all international competitions.
The 36 district-level FAs, various corporations and local government bodies provide most of the assistance that comes ANFA's way, helping Nepalese football's governing body to organise nationwide tournaments all year round for senior clubs and different age groups, thereby maintaining football's position as the number one sport. ANFA recently introduced an annual football calendar, with tournaments for the first division clubs, as well as for the U-19, U-17 and U-14 youth teams. The number of football tournaments in Nepal has always surpassed the number of events for other sports. For the 2003-2004 season, ANFA organised 24 tournaments across the country and prepared the national and youth teams that took part in the World Cup qualifying matches and the Asian Youth Championship. In this season's final tournament, 425 clubs, mostly amateur, participated in the Khukuri Cup at district, regional and senior level. Almost 8,000 players, half of whom were registered, played in the nationwide tournament in the space of two.
Nepal has been a major participant in South Asian competitions. However, Nepal in Asian football stage has been a much weaker and less successful national team, having never qualified for the AFC Asian Cup and often fell short in the FIFA World Cup qualification.

## History

The entry and initial start up of football in Nepal was during the Rana regime in 1921. The game was introduced in Nepal by young players who had learnt it from other countries. This game was watched by a huge audience and became very famous at that time. However, it is believed that the pioneer of this game in Nepal was Mr. Narayan Narshingh Rana of Thamel and Chandrajung Thapa of Naxal. There were some places, which were used as football ground for palace teams, such as Sujan Khanal and Mrigendra Shamsher Niwas Babar Mahal, Mahabir Niwas Tangal Durbar, Nar Shumsher Niwas Singha Durbar, Rudra Shamsher Niwas Bahadur Bhawan, and Thamel Narsingh camp. Whereas in the decade of 30s, both local and palace teams commonly used the grounds of Singh Darbar, Chhauni, Gaucharan, Jawalakhel and Lainchaur for playing football. Despite political instability at that time football was played enthusiastically during 1921 to 1990 by various teams often without a goal post, but the criterion was that the opponent team could follow the ball to the goal line. Sometimes, they used to play football on the bet of 100/200-castrated goat.
The teams like Mahabir-11, N R T-11, Jawalakhel-11, Public Institute-11 etc. were established in 1934. The football tournament was organized for the first time in an institutional way in 1934, in which 12 teams participated. In that tournament, the team of Jawalakhel club led by Nar Shumsher had secured first position. At that time, the chief of Public team Mr. Najarman Singh told that his team had got support and encouragement from Trichandra campus and audience.
Although that tournament was a grand success, due to various reasons the government decreed to ban the game but yet it was played inside and outside the palace in secret way. The game was played very enthusiastically due to which the number of participants increased drastically and hence complaints about banning the game were sent to the palace. The advisor Mr. Rishikesh Shaha had advised that the organization should solve the problem of game themselves, which was very popular western democratic tradition. Shri 3 Padma Shumsher decreed to follow it and accordingly a football committee was formed under the president of Lt.-Gen.Madan Shumsher JBR at first time in 1947 and members were Mr. Basant Shamsher and Mr. Mrigendra Shumsher.
In 1947, Tribhuvan Challenge Shield was introduced by late King Tribhuvan for the development of this football game which was organized at Tudikhel in front of Haribhavan. In that tournament Naresh-11 team led by Nar Shumsher secured first position and N. R. T. team secured second position. In the same year Maharaja Prime Minister Padma Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana introduced "Ramjanaki cup" which was continuously won thrice by Police Force team. The same cup was again introduced but was renamed as Marty's Memorial League football and hence League matches were introduced in Nepal.
In the year 1947, nationwide rebellion for Democracy started which led to a break in football for quite a time but after the success of the tournament the interest of public in football was again the same. Thus for establishing football in an organized way in Nepal, football association was established in the year 1951 The first Chairman of the association was General Nar Shumsher J. B. R. Similarly, the secretary Dr. Trailokya Nath Upreti and Janaki Prasad were elected as treasurer. This football association used to organize football in a regular way in front of Billiard Hall of Singh Durbar in ground making Parafeet.
In the year 1951, Tribhuvan Challenge Shield knock-out football tournament was organized in which the team of Jaleshwor-11 won the shield. Police force team secured 1st position and N. R. T. second in the Marty's Memorial League tournament organized in the same year. Balsakha Dal introduced a new shield called Devi Maya Memorial Shield in the year 1952 and in 1953 Sankata Boys Sports team won the shield. Other tournaments of football were played in Singh Durbar itself up to the year 1953 Although the construction of Dasarath Stadium had started just before the coronation of King Mahendra but a football match was played there, too, on the occasion of coronation of King Mahendra.
After the construction of Dasarath Stadium football matches were played there regularly since 1959. In the year 1959 a memorable event of a football match between the teams King-11 and Prime Minister-11 which was charity match held at Dasarath Stadium. In that match Late King Mahendra had played in the team King-11 and the then first elected Prime Minister B. P. Koirala played for the Prime minister-11 team. Similarly from the year 1961, Mahendra Goldcup football tournament has been being organized in Biratnagar.
After that, from the year 1968 Nar Trophy Football tournament was introduced on the name of the president of Nepal Football Association Mr. Mar Shumsher Rana with the view of respecting him who had contributed a lot in the development of football game. In order to respect the player who contributed to develop the standard of football the title of Best player was introduced in 1968 by football association and the Best Player was awarded with a gold medal. The title of Best Player and the gold medal were won by Baburam Pun whereas in 1978 Ganesh Thapa got the same. Similarly in the year 1981 and 1982 Rupak Raj Sharma and Suresh Panthi got the title and the medal respectively. Hence, total four players got the title of Best Player and the gold medal.
Due to various reasons, football game was not organized in a regular manner at that time and hence the Football association was re-established by National Games association in 1973 and Federation of Nepal football association was established. First of all, the Federation of Nepal Football Association had been continuing the League-cum Knockout Birthday Anniversary Football Tournament on the occasion of birthday of H. M. King since 1973 and other tournaments also in regular and organized way.
Although Nepal had been playing football with the teams of various neighboring countries and friendly countries but the necessity to invite countries for competitive matches in Nepal was realized only in 1979 and hence ANFA cup football match was introduced. In the first match of ANFA cup Kathmandu-11 team was the winner which was held in Chaitra. In order to encourage young players Federation of Nepal Football Association started ANFA President shield in the year 1981 in which Three Star club secured the first position.
The year 1982 was even more important for the development of football. In that year 23rd Asian youth football tournament (group 1) was organized for the first time in Nepal in which the teams of Nepal, India, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arab, Oman, Bahrain, Yemen A. R., Pakistan, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Yemen P. D. R. and Syria had participated. Hence, there were altogether 13 different participating countries.
With the view of promoting football throughout the country, A.N.F. Association started organizing football matches from 1982 in four development regions in next year. With the view of developing the standard of football it was realized that training about football game was needed and hence a training program was organized in 1982 from 17th Bhadra to 29th Bhadra named International Olympic Sole Directive football training. In this training 25 students were trained by the trainers of FIFA. In the year 2003, for the first time Women's football tournament was organized from 5th Bhadra to 11th Bhadra.
In 1970, Nepal became a member of FIFA. And hence football in Nepal can be divided into three stages. The first stage was from 1977 to 1983 when football was first introduced to Nepal and was played for entertainment. The second stage was from 1947 to 1973, which was regarded as a revolutionary stage in the history of football in Nepal. And the third stage is regarded from the year 1973 till now when the sport has been improved, modernized, commercialized and even Nepali players have been able to occupy a place in International football standards.

## National team

The Nepal national football team is governed by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) and is a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Since 1972, the ANFA has been affiliated with FIFA, the international governing body for world football. In 1954, the ANFA became one of the founding members of the AFC. ANFA also became member of SAFF in 1997. There are other Nepalese national teams, such as the under-23 team, under-20 team and the under-17 team.

## Major football stadiums

| # | Stadium | Location | Current Capacity | Tenants | Year Built |
| 1 | Pokhara Rangasala | Pokhara, Gandaki | 16,500 | Nepal national football team and Pokhara Thunders | 2004 |
| 2 | Dasharath Rangasala | Kathmandu, Bagmati | 15,000 | Boys Union Club, Brigade Boys Club, Himalayan Sherpa Club, Kathmandu Rayzrs FC, Machhindra FC and NRT | 1956 |
| 3 | Narayani Stadium | Birgunj, Madhesh | 15,000 | FC Chitwan | 1981 |
| 4 | Sahid Rangasala | Biratnagar, Koshi | 15,000 | Biratnagar City FC and Morang XI | 1969 |
| 5 | Karnali Province Stadium | Surkhet, Karnali | 12,500 | | 2021 |
| 6 | Nepalgunj Stadium | Nepalgunj, Lumbini | 10,000 | | |
| 7 | Dhangadhi Stadium | Dhangadhi, Sudurpashchim | 10,000 | Dhangadhi FC | |

## League system
### Status evolution

* Professional leagues
* Amateur/Semi-professional leagues
| Year | Franchise top tier | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | Tier 5 and below |
| 1954 – 2003 | | Martyr's Memorial A-Division League | Different state cups (without top divisions) | | | |
| 2003–2021 | | Martyr's Memorial A-Division League | Martyr's Memorial B-Division League | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League | C Division Qualifiers | Different state cups (without top divisions) |
| 2021 – | Nepal Super League | Martyr's Memorial A-Division League | Martyr's Memorial B-Division League | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League | C Division Qualifiers | Different state leagues (without top divisions) |

## Cup competitions
### Major cups

The following tournaments were sanctioned by the All Nepal Football Association for 2019.
| Tournament | City | District | Province |
| Shahid Bhim Narayan Gold Cup | Dhankuta | Dhankuta | Koshi Province |
| Mai Valley Gold Cup | Ilam | Ilam | Koshi Province |
| Jhapa Gold Cup | Birtamod | Jhapa | Koshi Province |
| Damak Gold Cup | Damak | Jhapa | Koshi Province |
| Dhailadubba Gold Cup | Kankai | Jhapa | Koshi Province |
| Mechinagar Gold Cup | Mechinagar | Jhapa | Koshi Province |
| Birat Gold Cup | Biratnagar | Morang | Koshi Province |
| Falgunanda Gold Cup | Phidim | Panchthar | Koshi Province |
| Budha Subba Gold Cup | Dharan | Sunsari | Koshi Province |
| Manmohan Duhabi Gold Cup | Duhabi | Sunsari | Koshi Province |
| Madan Bhandari Invitational Itahari Gold Cup | Itahari | Sunsari | Koshi Province |
| Udayapur Gold Cup | Gaighat | Udayapur | Koshi Province |
| Taplejung Gold Cup | Phungling | Taplejung | Koshi Province |
| Simara Gold Cup | Jitpur Simara | Bara | Madhesh Province |
| Bishal Memorial Gold Cup | Birgunj | Parsa | Madhesh Province |
| Rajashree Janak Gold Cup | Lalbandi | Sarlahi | Madhesh Province |
| Bikash Shield Football Tournament | Bharatpur | Chitwan | Bagmati Province |
| Hetauda Gold Cup | Hetauda | Makawanpur | Bagmati Province |
| Kavre Gold Cup | Dhulikhel | Kavrepalanchok | Bagmati Province |
| Nuwakot Gold Cup | Bidur | Nuwakot | Bagmati Province |
| Sindhu Cup | Lamosangu | Sindhupalchowk | Bagmati Province |
| Aaha Rara Gold Cup | Pokhara | Kaski | Gandaki Province |
| Pokhara International Football Tournament | Pokhara | Kaski | Gandaki Province |
| Nepalgunj Gold Cup | Nepalgunj | Banke | Karnali Province |
| Tilottama Gold Cup | Butwal | Rupandehi | Karnali Province |
| Suduspaschim Khaptad Gold Cup | Dhangadhi | Kailali | Sudurpashchim Province |

### Other cups

* ANFA Cup (1980–2009)
* San Miguel Itahari Gold Cup (2007)
* Mahendra Gold Cup (1982–2004)
* Khukuri Gold Cup (1998–2004)
* Birendra Memorial Cup (2002)
* Birthday Cup* (1982–2005)
* Devi Maya Memorial Shield (1953)
* Tribhuvan Challenge Shield** (1948–1986)
* National League Cup (1985–1999)
* Ram Janaki Football Tournament
* KP Oli Cup
* Pokhara Cup
    *Founded in 1974 to commemorate the 29th birthday of King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah.
    **Founded in 1948 by King Tribhuvan.