Asian Cup Qualifiers: The Nepal women’s football team is on the cusp of creating history. They are just one win away from securing a historic berth in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, as they face host Uzbekistan on Saturday in a Group F match.
It will also be a momentous occasion for the Nepal’s women football team who will be playing their 100th international match.
After registering two back-to-back wins the the Asian Cup qualifiers defeating Laos and Sri Lanka, the women from the Himalayan nation will look to pull things on their side.
All Eyes On Sabitra Bhandari
Leading the charge from the front will be captain Sabitra Bhandari, who clinched two back-to-back hat-tricks. The 27-year-old captain has already netted seven goals in two games, including back-to-back hat-tricks, cementing her reputation as one of South Asia’s most lethal forwards. Her speed, composure, and clinical finishing have been the defining feature of Nepal’s campaign so far — and the team will look to her again as they chase their dream of reaching the Asian Cup for the first time since 1999.
“We have six points from two matches. Everyone in the team has a positive mentality. Now the main challenge remains, and we are ready to face it,” said Bhandari, ahead of the crucial clash.
One Match, One Dream
Both teams have won their opening two matches of the Asian Cup Qualifiers— Nepal defeating Laos 9–0 and Sri Lanka 8–0, while Uzbekistan overpowered Sri Lanka 10–0 and Laos 7–0. Remarkably, both sides are level on points, goal difference, and goals scored, setting the stage for a thrilling decider. They winner will travel to Australia for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in March.
Nepal’s women’s team has long lived in the shadow of potential, falling short in previous attempts to qualify for the continental tournament.
Their opponent, Uzbekistan, ranks 49 spots above Nepal in the FIFA rankings (51st vs 100th), and they enjoy the home advantage. However, the performances of both teams so far have been strikingly similar — making the match an unpredictable battle of equals.
If the match ends in a draw and all statistics remain level, AFC regulations stipulate that the group winner will be decided by a penalty shootout — a dramatic possibility that could turn the match into an instant classic.
If Nepal can pull off a win, or hold their nerves in a possible shootout, it will end a 26-year drought and mark a new dawn for women’s football in the country.
Also Read: UEFA Women’s Euro 2025: Squad Breakdown Of Each Team
Uzbekistan vs Nepal: Head-to-head
Historically, Uzbekistan has had the upper hand over Nepal in women’s football. The two teams have met three times before — and Uzbekistan has won all three.
The first clash came in the 1999 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in the Philippines, where Uzbekistan defeated Nepal 6–1.
After a two-decade gap, the teams met again in the 2019 Nadezhda Cup in Kyrgyzstan. In the league stage, Uzbekistan won 2–0, and in the final, they edged out Nepal 3–2, despite a brace from Sabitra Bhandari.
Match Details
Fixture: Nepal vs Uzbekistan
Date: Saturday
Venue: Bunyodkor Stadium, Tashkent
Time: 6:15 PM Nepali Time
