Nepal Announce Final 23-Man Squad for AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Against Vietnam

Kathmandu, Nepal – The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has confirmed the 23-man squad for Nepal’s upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers against Vietnam. Head coach Matt Ross unveiled the final selection as the team prepares for two crucial fixtures scheduled on October 9 and October 14, 2025.

The squad sees minimal changes from Nepal’s previous campaign, with forward Dinesh Henjan replacing Srijan Raj Gautam. During the recent Bangladesh friendlies, several senior players were unavailable due to their involvement with Nepal’s U-23 side in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Tajikistan. Players called up to fill those temporary gaps have now been omitted, allowing the main squad to reconvene for the senior qualifiers.

Nepal, currently ranked 176th in FIFA rankings, face a stern test against 114th-ranked Vietnam. The first leg will take place at Binh Duong Stadium, Vietnam, on October 9, with the return leg scheduled for October 14 at Thong Nhat Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City. Nepal’s home stadium, Dasharath Stadium, failed to meet AFC standards, forcing both fixtures to be played on foreign soil.

Group F Overview

Nepal are currently at the bottom of Group F, following defeats to Malaysia (2–0 in March 2025) and Laos (2–1 in June 2025). The Malaysian result is under FIFA review for potential ineligible players.

Vietnam have had mixed results in the group, including a 5–0 win over Laos and a 4–0 loss to Malaysia, which may also be subject to FIFA investigation. The group winner will qualify directly for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, making these fixtures critical for Nepal’s campaign.

Fixtures (Nepal Time)

• Vietnam vs Nepal – October 9, 2025 | 6:15 PM NPT
  Venue: Binh Duong Stadium, Binh Duong, Vietnam

• Nepal vs Vietnam – October 14, 2025 | 6:15 PM NPT
  Venue: Thong Nhat Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Live Broadcast Information

As of now, ANFA has not released official live streaming or broadcast details for the matches. In Vietnam, coverage is expected via Next Sports, the country’s official broadcaster for national team fixtures. Fans are advised to monitor ANFA’s official channels for updates closer to match day.Also don't forget to follow City Sports Network on Facebook to get information about live streaming details.

Nepal 23-Man Final Squad

Position	Player Name
Goalkeepers (GK)	Kiran Chemjong, Bishal Sunar, Deep Karki
Defenders (DF)	Ananta Tamang, Bimal Pandey, Sanish Shrestha, Sumit Shrestha, Suman Shrestha, Abhishek Limbu, Rohit Chand
Midfielders (MF)	Laken Limbu, Rohan Karki, Mani Kumar Lama, Arik Bista, Manish Dangi, Kritish Ratna Chhunju, Yogesh Gurung, Kushal Deuba
Forwards (FW)	Anjan Bista, Ayush Ghalan, Gillespye Jung Karki, Subash Thakuri Bam, Dinesh Henjan

Nepal face a daunting challenge against a higher-ranked Vietnam side, with both matches taking place away from home. The Gorkhalis will rely on experience, tactical discipline, and team cohesion to turn these fixtures into a historic campaign for the nation.

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