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Tashkent, Uzbekistan – City Sports Network, June 23
The Nepal women's national football team is all set to compete in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, with Group F matches kicking off in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. While the nation is buzzing with rising interest and growing support for women’s football, the qualifiers present a steep challenge.
Nepal will face Laos (June 29), Sri Lanka (July 2), and host nation Uzbekistan (July 5). Only the top team from the group qualifies for the final tournament to be held in Australia.
🧮 Group F – FIFA Rankings Snapshot
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🇺🇿 Uzbekistan – 51
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🇳🇵 Nepal – 100
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🇱🇦 Laos – 107
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🇱🇰 Sri Lanka – 159
🇳🇵 Nepal: Rising Support, But Results Still Unsteady
Despite a growing fan base and social media presence, Nepal's recent international form raises concerns. The team lost back-to-back friendlies against Thailand (0-1 and 0-2), and while it reached the final of the Four Nation Women’s Championship earlier this year, it fell 0-2 to Myanmar after drawing 2-2 with them in the group stage.
Nepal's struggles in tournament finals have become a recurring theme:
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Lost WAFF 2024 final to Jordan
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Lost SAFF 2024 final to Bangladesh
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Lost Four Nation final to Myanmar
The pressure of overhype may be mounting on the players, even as the sport gains momentum across Nepal. There is genuine talent, but the history of falling short in decisive matches looms large.
🇱🇦 Laos: Lack of Match Practice Could Help Nepal
Laos has not played an international match since October 2024, with their last two results being a 4-0 loss to Saudi Arabia and a 3-1 defeat to Malaysia. Their most recent victory dates back to July 2022, when they beat Timor Leste 2-0.
With nearly a year of inactivity, Laos enters the tournament as an underdog — but so do Nepal, making this a must-win clash for coach Pattrick De Wilde.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka: Little Known, But Still a Threat
Sri Lanka has not officially announced their squad for the qualifiers. However, reports suggest that Nepal’s former men’s head coach, now with the Sri Lankan men’s team, may also be guiding the women’s side.
In April 2025, they lost 2-0 to Saudi Arabia in a friendly. Nepal previously beat Sri Lanka 6-0 in the 2024 SAFF Championship, but any lapse in focus can prove costly in a tournament format where goal difference may matter.
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan: Host Nation, Heavy Favourites
Uzbekistan is the team to beat in Group F. They’ve had a packed calendar and competitive opponents, including:
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4-0 win over Palestine
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Two 1-0 wins vs India in Bengaluru
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Draw with Thailand
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4-3 loss to World Cup team Zambia
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5-0 loss to China, 10-0 loss to Australia
Despite those defeats, Uzbekistan is facing world-class opposition in preparation — a sign of serious intent. With strong institutional backing and a growing domestic structure, they are expected to top the group and qualify for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
📊 Group F Qualification Probabilities (Estimate) .png)
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🇺🇿 Uzbekistan – 90%
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🇳🇵 Nepal – 5%
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🇱🇦 Laos – 3.5%
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🇱🇰 Sri Lanka – 1.5%
🔚 Conclusion: Eyes on Laos Clash
Nepal’s hopes hinge on a strong start against Laos. A draw or narrow win could hurt their qualification dreams, especially with Uzbekistan waiting on the final matchday.
As the women’s game surges in popularity, fans must balance hope with perspective. The road to Australia 2026 is tough — but not impossible.
Let’s back the girls in red and white, and let their game do the talking.
🗓️ Nepal’s Fixtures – Group F
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🆚 Laos – June 29, 6:15 PM NPT
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🆚 Sri Lanka – July 2, 6:15 PM NPT
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🆚 Uzbekistan – July 5, 9:15 PM NPT
📍 All matches to be played at the Milliy Stadium, Tashkent
📺 Streaming live on Uzbekistan FA YouTube Channel
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