ANFA preparing to host Yemen in FIFA World Cup Qualifier

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 8: The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) announced on Tuesday that it has begun preparations to host Yemen in the first leg of the second stage of the AFC Asia Cup and FIFA World Cup 2026 Joint Qualifiers. Nepal has been placed in Group H of the second round with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Yemen.

Nepal's second-round qualification campaign will begin with an away match against the UAE on November 16. Following the match against the UAE, Nepal will host Yemen on November 21 in a home match at the Dashrath Stadium.

During a press conference held on Tuesday, ANFA announced that the first leg between Nepal and Yemen has been scheduled for 7 PM at the Dashrath Stadium. 

ANFA spokesperson Suresh Shah said that the match against Yemen has been scheduled for 7 PM after consulting with Nepal's head coach, Vincenzo Alberto Annese. Previously, ANFA used to host the match at 5:30 p.m.

“We had planned to hold the match at 5:30 PM considering the winter season, but the coach suggested that we delay it by one and a half hours for the benefit of the national team,” said ANFA Tournament Director Sanjeev Mishra. He also added that Nepal will be playing at 9:30 PM against the UAE in their first match of the second-round qualifiers.

ANFA is also in the process of arranging bus rides for the spectators to return home after the late-night match. “We are managing around 25 buses, so that football spectators can return home easily,” added Mishra.

ANFA Spokesperson Shah informed the media that the price of tickets for the game has been set at Rs. 400 for the normal parapet and Rs 1,000 for the VIP parapet. 

He also informed the media that the commercial and media right of the entire match of the second round has been given to Singapore-based Sport Five.

The away match against Yemen is scheduled for June 11, 2024, while the home match against the UAE is fixed for June 6 next year. The matches against Bahrain will be held on March 21 and March 26, 2024.

Coach Annese has already called 26 players for the closed camp in preparation for the World Cup qualifiers. Nepal will be travelling to Dubai for its first-leg match against the UAE on November 12.