Football in Nepal

Football is the most popular sport in Nepal. It is governed by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). The present acting president of ANFA is Narendra Shrestha. 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 months.

The entry and initial start up of football game in Nepal during Rana regime in 1921. The game was introduced in Nepal by the young players who had learnt this game from other countries. This game was watched by a huge mass of 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 yet played enthusiastically during 1921 to 1990 by various teams without 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.

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