The senior Nepal national football team is set to kick off the Red Bull International Football 2025 tournament in Kathmandu on Saturday, facing off against South Asian rivals Bangladesh in what promises to be a high-voltage clash.
This friendly series serves as vital preparation for Nepal ahead of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, while Bangladesh too will be testing new faces as both nations gear up for bigger continental challenges.
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Nepal vs Bangladesh Head-to-Head Record
- This will be the 25th meeting between the two sides – making Bangladesh the most frequent opponent in Nepal’s international football history.
- Out of the previous 24 encounters:
- Nepal won 8 matches
- Bangladesh won 13 matches
- 3 matches ended in draws
The last time these teams met was back in September 2022 at the Dasarath Rangasala Stadium, where Nepal defeated Bangladesh 3-1. All three goals were scored by Nepal’s star striker Anjan Bista, while Bangladesh’s Sahzad Hossain scored their lone goal in the second half.
Interestingly, Anjan has not scored a single goal for Nepal since October 2023, despite equalling the national record of 13 international goals (joint with Hari Khadka and Nirajan Rayamajhi). Saturday’s clash presents a golden opportunity for him to break his two-year-long goal drought.
Team News: Nepal
Nepal will miss some key players:
- Right-back Sanish Shrestha is sidelined due to injury.
- Ayush Ghalan, Sumit Shrestha, and Nirajan Dhami are unavailable as they are with the U23 squad in Uzbekistan for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
On a brighter note, legendary striker Bharat Khawas has been recalled into the squad. This Bangladesh series will mark his farewell from international football after serving Nepal for 17 years since his debut in 2008.
Team News: Bangladesh
Bangladesh also arrive with a youthful squad, as many of their regular stars are unavailable:
- Players like Hamza Choudhury, Sohel Rana, and Fahim Islam will miss the tour due to club commitments.
- Captaincy duties will remain with Jamal Bhuiyan, although he has only started in one of their last three matches.
Despite the absence of star players, Bangladesh are determined to seek revenge for their last defeat in Kathmandu.
Stadium & Ticket Information
The historic Dasarath Rangasala Stadium in Tripureshwar, Kathmandu will host the clash under floodlights at 5:30 PM NST on Saturday.
Due to AFC’s restrictions, the stadium capacity has been reduced from 15,000 to 10,000 seats:
- 9,000 general tickets (NPR 500 each)
- 1,000 VIP tickets (NPR 1,000 each)
Tickets are available via the Khalti app or directly at the stadium counters.
Nepal vs Bangladesh Live Streaming
- The match will be broadcast live on Action Sports HD (YouTube).
- However, since YouTube is currently banned in Nepal, fans can follow the live stream updates on sajhakhabar.com.
Final Thoughts
Nepal will be eager to continue their dominance over Bangladesh at home, especially with the support of passionate fans at the Dasarath Rangasala. For Bangladesh, it’s all about testing their new generation and avenging the defeat they suffered in 2022.
💬 Drop your best wishes for the Gorkhali Warriors in the comments below as they take on Bangladesh in the Red Bull International Football 2025 opener.