KATHMANDU: Nepal’s national football team is gearing up to compete against Laos in the preliminary selection for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The draw for the Asian qualifiers was held at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Nepal has been drawn to play against Laos in the playoff stage.
The matches between Nepal and Laos will take place in Laos in October. The first leg is scheduled for October 12, followed by the second leg on October 17.
Both teams will be vying for a spot in the second round of the qualifiers, with the victorious team progressing to the next stage.
Among the 36 teams participating in this preliminary round, the top 26 teams have already secured their spots for the second round.
The remaining 10 teams, including the winner of the Nepal-Laos playoff, will be divided into 9 groups of 4 teams each.
In the subsequent stage, the winners and runners-up of all groups will advance to the third round of the World Cup qualifiers, securing an opportunity to participate in the AFC Asian Cup 2027.
Football fans from both nations are eagerly awaiting the exciting matches between Nepal and Laos, as both teams strive to make their mark on the international stage and inch closer to the ultimate dream of playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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