No club from Nepal will take part in the AFC competitions for the 2025/26 season, as none of them were able to secure the AFC club license. This marks a major setback for Nepalese football, especially after Church Boys United represented the country last season in the AFC Challenge League playoff.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) requires all participating clubs to meet a set of minimum standards. These standards vary based on the competition, with stricter rules for top-tier tournaments and relatively flexible ones for the AFC Challenge League. Despite this, no club from Nepal met the requirements this time. In contrast, four clubs from Bhutan successfully obtained the license, including Paro FC, who will participate again this year.
Nepal’s non-participation will negatively impact its AFC ranking. Currently, Nepal has 0.917 points, placing 38th overall and 20th in the West region. These points are earned based on club performances in AFC tournaments. Without any team competing, Nepal loses the chance to gain valuable ranking points, putting them at risk of being overtaken by Bhutan, which holds 0.505 points and is just two positions behind. Other nations behind Nepal include Sri Lanka (0.555), Brunei (0.1), and Afghanistan (0.075). Five countries remain pointless and share the 43rd spot.
Another key reason behind the absence is the lack of a domestic league this year. After the conclusion of the Nepal Super League, ANFA attempted to host the ANFA President’s Cup, but the event was cancelled due to disagreements with clubs. With no clear representative and no licenses granted, Nepal’s AFC journey for this season ends before it began.
