KATHMANDU: Nepal’s first match in the third round of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers 2027, originally scheduled to be held at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu, will now be played in Malaysia due to the continued disapproval of the venue by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The match, scheduled for March 25, was initially intended to be Nepal’s home fixture against Malaysia. However, despite earlier assurances, the AFC’s inspection of Dasharath Stadium revealed that the facility still does not meet the necessary international standards to host Asian Cup qualifiers.
This marks the second consecutive time Nepal will play its home match abroad in World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers. The AFC cited issues with the condition of the stadium, particularly the pitch, security arrangements, training facilities and floodlights, as key reasons for the venue’s disqualification.
The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has yet to officially announce the new location of the match, but the AFC has confirmed that the opening fixture will now be held at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor, Malaysia.
This change comes after an agreement between the Nepal and Malaysia Football Associations to swap the two matches, with Nepal now playing its first match in Malaysia and the return fixture scheduled for November 2025 in Nepal.
While the AFC’s decision to approve international competitions at Dasharath Stadium for women’s football and club matches, the men’s qualifiers continue to face challenges.
In the previous qualifiers, Nepal was forced to play home matches at neutral venues, with the games against Bahrain and UAE held in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, respectively.
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