With a history filled with heartbreaks, finals appearances, and fierce battles, Nepal enters this edition with both confidence and concerns.
Nepal vs Bhutan: A Familiar SAFF Rivalry
This will be the 7th SAFF Women’s Championship appearance for both Nepal and Bhutan. While Nepal has built a reputation as one of South Asia’s strongest women’s football nations, Bhutan has gradually evolved into a competitive force.
Nepal has reached the SAFF Women’s Championship final five times, but heartbreakingly ended as runners-up on each occasion. Bhutan, on the other hand, only managed to reach the semi-finals in the last two editions, after struggling to get out of the group stage in previous years.
Currently, Nepal sits at 87th in FIFA Women’s Rankings, while Bhutan is ranked 164th, highlighting the gap in experience and international exposure.
This upcoming match will mark the sixth meeting between Nepal and Bhutan in SAFF Women’s
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Nepal and Bhutan: Six Consecutive Editions Together
Interestingly, Nepal and Bhutan have found themselves in the same group in the last five consecutive SAFF editions, creating a unique and growing football rivalry.
SAFF Women’s Championship 2024
The last meeting between the two sides came during the 2024 SAFF Women’s Championship held in Nepal.
Placed alongside Sri Lanka and Maldives in Group B, Nepal and Bhutan began their campaign with a 0-0 draw.
Both teams later secured two wins and one draw from three matches and progressed into the semi-finals.
Nepal topped the group and famously defeated India in a dramatic penalty shootout to reach the final. Bhutan, however, suffered a 7-1 defeat against Bangladesh in the semi-final.
SAFF Women’s Championship 2022
During the 2022 edition hosted in Nepal, both teams were again drawn in Group A alongside Sri Lanka.
Nepal dominated Bhutan with a convincing 4-0 victory.
Once again, both teams reached the semi-finals. Nepal shocked India with a 1-0 win and advanced to the final, while Bhutan faced another heavy defeat against Bangladesh, losing 8-0.
Despite defeating India in both editions, Nepal failed to overcome Bangladesh in the finals and missed out on the title.
Earlier Meetings: Nepal’s Dominance
Nepal’s dominance over Bhutan has been evident throughout earlier editions:
2019: Nepal defeated Bhutan 3-0
2016: Nepal crushed Bhutan 8-0
2014: Nepal secured another massive 8-0 victory
However, the gap between the two teams has clearly narrowed in recent years.
Bhutan’s Rise Creates New Challenges
While Nepal used to comfortably defeat Bhutan by huge margins, the story has changed recently.
Bhutan is now considered one of South Asia’s rapidly improving football nations. Their performance in the last SAFF edition showed significant progress as they held Nepal to a goalless draw in front of Nepal’s home supporters.
That match, however, came without Nepal's star striker Sabitra Bhandari "Samba" on the field.
Unfortunately for Nepal fans, history may repeat itself.
Nepal Misses Key Players Ahead of Bhutan Clash
Nepal enters the tournament without two major stars:
Forward Sabitra Bhandari "Samba" – ruled out due to injury
Midfielder Sabita Rana Magar – unavailable for the tournament
These absences could significantly affect Nepal’s attacking strength and midfield control.
With Samba unavailable, the burden of leading Nepal’s attack now falls on two promising forwards:
Meena Deuba
Purnima Rai
Both young players now have a massive opportunity to prove themselves on the biggest South Asian stage.
Match Details: Nepal vs Bhutan
Competition: SAFF Women’s Championship 2026
Match: Nepal vs Bhutan
Venue: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, Goa
Date: Monday, May 25, 2026
Kick-off: 4:30 PM NST
Where to Watch Nepal vs Bhutan Live?
Fans in Nepal can watch the match live through the Dish Home Go (DGO) mobile application with a paid subscription.
Supporters worldwide will be eagerly following Nepal’s opening match as the Chelis aim to begin their campaign with three points.
Can Nepal Finally Lift the SAFF Trophy?
Nepal has come painfully close to winning the SAFF Women’s Championship several times. With a strong football culture and passionate fan support, the dream remains alive. But injuries, missing stars, and an improving Bhutan side mean Nepal cannot afford to underestimate their opponents. As the Chelis step onto the field in Goa, millions of Nepali fans will once again hope this is finally the year history changes.