# Nepalese football league system

The Nepalese football league hierarchy features a comprehensive system encompassing two professional leagues, two semi-professional leagues, and various amateur leagues catering to football clubs across the nation.
At the top tier stands the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League, inaugurated in 1954. Below it are the semi-professional leagues, including the Martyr's Memorial B-Division League, established in 2003, serving as the second division, and the Martyr's Memorial C-Division League and Martyr's Memorial C-Division League Qualifier, also known as the D-Division, was founded in 2003 and represents the third and fourth divisions, respectively.
Since 2021, a private sector-owned and ANFA-supported professional franchise football league called the Nepal Super League has been organized. Though the league is professional, it is still not included in the league tier system.
For women's football, the premier competition is the ANFA Women's League, previously referred to as the National Women's League of Nepal, which began in 1998.
This structure ensures a pathway for clubs to progress and develop within the Nepalese football ecosystem.

## Men's

A-Divisioin League, B-Divisioin League, C-Divisioin League and C-Divisioin League Qualifiers are the top 3 tier Football leagues organized by ANFA and other province leagues organized by the respective province football Association.

### Pyramid

| Level | National leagues | National leagues | National leagues | National leagues | National leagues | National leagues | National leagues |
| Franchise League | Nepal Super League 7 clubs – ↓ No relegation | Nepal Super League 7 clubs – ↓ No relegation | Nepal Super League 7 clubs – ↓ No relegation | Nepal Super League 7 clubs – ↓ No relegation | Nepal Super League 7 clubs – ↓ No relegation | Nepal Super League 7 clubs – ↓ No relegation | Nepal Super League 7 clubs – ↓ No relegation |
| Tier 1 | Martyr's Memorial A-Division League 14 clubs – ↓ 2 relegation | Martyr's Memorial A-Division League 14 clubs – ↓ 2 relegation | Martyr's Memorial A-Division League 14 clubs – ↓ 2 relegation | Martyr's Memorial A-Division League 14 clubs – ↓ 2 relegation | Martyr's Memorial A-Division League 14 clubs – ↓ 2 relegation | Martyr's Memorial A-Division League 14 clubs – ↓ 2 relegation | Martyr's Memorial A-Division League 14 clubs – ↓ 2 relegation |
| Tier 2 | Martyr's Memorial B-Division League 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 2 relegations | Martyr's Memorial B-Division League 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 2 relegations | Martyr's Memorial B-Division League 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 2 relegations | Martyr's Memorial B-Division League 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 2 relegations | Martyr's Memorial B-Division League 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 2 relegations | Martyr's Memorial B-Division League 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 2 relegations | Martyr's Memorial B-Division League 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 2 relegations |
| Tier 3 | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 2 relegations | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 2 relegations | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 2 relegations | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 2 relegations | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 2 relegations | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 2 relegations | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 2 relegations |
| Tier 4 | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League Qualifiers 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 7 relegations | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League Qualifiers 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 7 relegations | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League Qualifiers 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 7 relegations | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League Qualifiers 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 7 relegations | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League Qualifiers 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 7 relegations | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League Qualifiers 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 7 relegations | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League Qualifiers 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 7 relegations |
| | Province leagues | Province leagues | Province leagues | Province leagues | Province leagues | Province leagues | Province leagues |
| | Koshi | Madhesh | Bagmati | Gandaki | Lumbini | Karnali | Sudurpashchim |
| Tier 5 | Koshi Province Premier League ↑promote ↓relegate | Madhesh Province Football League ↑promote ↓relegate | Bagmati Province Football League ↑promote ↓relegate | Gandaki Province Football League ↑promote ↓relegate | Lumbini Province Football League ↑promote ↓relegate | Karnali Province Football League ↑promote ↓relegate | Sudurpashchim Province Football League ↑promote ↓relegate |
| Tier 6 | District Leagues | District Leagues | District Leagues | District Leagues | District Leagues | District Leagues | District Leagues |

## League system
### Status evolution

* Professional leagues
* Semi-professional leagues
* Amateur 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 province leagues (without top divisions) |

## Women's

| Level | Leagues |
| 1 | ANFA Women's League |
| 2 | ANFA Women's League Qualifiers |

## Youth

| Level | Competition | Age category |
| Men's National | ANFA U-18 Youth League | Under-18 |
| Men's National | ANFA U-16 Youth League | Under-16 |
| Women's National | ANFA Junior Girl's National Football Championship |

## 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.