Nepal take on Laos today

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Oct. 12: Nepal's football coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese announced the 23-member final squad for the first-round qualifiers of FIFA World Cup 2026 on Wednesday. 

Defender Amrit Shrestha and Forward Sanjeeb Bista have been named for the first time in Nepal’s national football team, while Simant Thapa and Anish Deula failed to make the final cut from the closed camp. Nepal, ranked 174, is playing their ninth qualifying match, while visitors Laos, who are ranked 188, are making their sixth appearance in the World Cup qualifiers. 

Nepal will play Laos in home and away matches in the qualifier. Nepal’s home match is set for Thursday at Dashrath Stadium at 5:30 PM, and the second match will be played in Laos on October 17. 

Coach Annese included Himalayan Sherpa Club’s defender Shrestha and New Road Team’s forward Bista as the new faces in his squad. 

The winner of this round will qualify for the second round of selection, which will take place in a group stage format. Head Coach Annese said his boys have a desire to win and reach the second stage of the World Cup qualifiers. “The game against Laos is very important for us. We have prepared for two months. In between, we played two friendlies against Myanmar and some friendly matches with local clubs. Besides, my boys are all fit.”

Nepal has a good record against Laos, having defeated Laos three times earlier. The last time Nepal defeated Laos was in the Three Nations Cup held last March. However, Coach Annese did not underestimate opponent Laos. “The situation between then and now has changed a lot. Laos also had a change in their team. They have also prepared well. Notwithstanding, we will perform well on the field tomorrow. Let us hope the game will be exciting.”

Skipper Kiran Chemjong expected the presence of huge numbers of home fans at Dashrath Stadium on Thursday. He urged home fans to come in a national jersey with the national flag. “I want to see the fans in the national team jersey with the national flag come to support us.” Chemjong said Nepal is eager to reach the second stage of the World Cup qualifiers. “This may be the first time that the national team has prepared for the World Cup for so long. After we came, the players were more enthusiastic,' Kiran said.

Final squad

Goalkeepers: Kiran Kumar Limbu, Deep Karki, Abhishek Baral

Defenders: Sanish Shrestha, Ananta Tamang, Ashish Gurung, Rohit Chand, Anjan Rai, Aashish Chaudhary, Amrit Shrestha, Arik Bista

Midfielder: Sudip Gurung, Laken Limbu, Awas Lamichhane, Utsav Rai, Kritish Ratna Chhunju, Manish Dangi

Forwards: Anjan Bista, Ayush Ghalan, Gillespye Jung Karki, Dinesh Henjan, Hisub Thapaliya, Sanjeeb Bista