KATHMANDU, Aug 30: Nepal’s ambition to host key AFC Asian Cup Qualifier matches on home soil has once again been thwarted, as the Dasharath Stadium, the country’s only international-standard venue, has been declared unfit by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). This decision means Nepal will be unable to host its upcoming home fixtures against Vietnam in October and Malaysia in November, forcing the national team to play both matches abroad.
A recent AFC inspection of the Dasharath Stadium raised serious concerns about the venue’s infrastructure and safety standards. The stadium lacks a modern automated watering system, proper drainage, and separate entry and exit points for players, officials, media personnel, and spectators. In addition, misaligned floodlights make evening matches nearly impossible. Following the inspection, AFC officials formally informed the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) that the stadium does not meet international requirements for Asian Cup qualifiers.
Nepal had initially arranged to swap home and away fixtures with Malaysia, with the return leg expected to be held in Kathmandu this November. However, with the Dasharath Stadium deemed unfit, that plan has now collapsed. Similarly, the October fixture against Vietnam will also have to be played abroad. The inability to host matches on home soil carries multiple repercussions. Players lose the psychological advantage of competing in front of their home crowd, supporters miss out on live matches, and ANFA faces financial losses from ticket sales, sponsorship, and broadcast rights. The tourism and hospitality sectors also miss potential revenue from foreign teams, staff, and fans.
Nepal’s Dasharath Stadium unfit for World Cup and Asian Cup Qua...
This is not the first time the Dasharath Stadium has failed to meet international standards. In 2019, Nepal had to play against Kuwait in Bhutan as the stadium was under renovation. During the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers, home matches against Bahrain and the UAE were relocated abroad due to pitch and lighting issues. More recently, in late 2023, Nepal played against Bahrain twice in Manama instead of hosting the return leg in Kathmandu. While the stadium has successfully hosted smaller tournaments, such as the SAFF Women’s Championship, four-nation friendlies, and upcoming friendlies against Bangladesh, it has consistently fallen short when it comes to official AFC or FIFA qualifiers.
Debate continues over responsibility for the stadium’s shortcomings. ANFA maintains that the Dasharath Stadium is outdated and requires major renovation or replacement. The National Sports Council (NSC), which assumed management of the stadium last year, has been slow to implement necessary upgrades. Critics, including former ANFA officials, argue that weak leadership and poor planning have also contributed to the repeated failures to host matches at home.
According to ANFA, AFC inspection raised questions about the stadium’s overall condition, concluding that it does not meet international standards. Officials noted that issues such as the lack of a proper drainage system, inadequate floodlights, and shared entry points for players, VIPs, and media have rendered the stadium unsuitable for official qualifiers. The stadium has not hosted any major international matches for nearly two years, with the last home fixture during the FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup qualifying rounds being against Yemen. Since then, Nepal has been forced to play home fixtures abroad, including matches against Bahrain and the UAE.
The inability to host matches at home affects players’ performance, as playing on familiar grounds with the support of thousands of fans often provides a morale boost. It also impacts the local economy, as revenue from ticket sales, broadcast rights, and sponsorships is lost. Hotels and other businesses that would benefit from visiting teams and their staff also miss out. While friendlies can still be organized at the Dasharath Stadium, official international qualifiers remain off-limits due to AFC and FIFA standards.
ANFA officials stress that the only solution is a comprehensive renovation of the Dasharath Stadium alongside the construction of a new national stadium. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has shown keen interest in accelerating a new 50,000-capacity stadium project in Jagati, Bhaktapur, though completing such a project will take time. Meanwhile, modernizing the existing Dasharath Stadium remains crucial to hosting future major tournaments on home soil.
