Uzbekistan knock Nepal out in penalty shootout in AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers decider.

Since hiring Guy Kiala as technical director, Uzbekistan has booked its first Olympics and World Cup berths, showing state backing pays off in football.

They rout Sri Lanka 8-0 on Wednesday to register their second win in the Asian Cup qualifiers.

If the match ends in a draw, tiebreakers—including goal difference, higher number of goals scored, and fair play record—will be applied to separate them.

They cap off their 100th international game with a goal rush, sending nine past Laos while keeping a clean sheet.

The four rivals talk up their chances, but only the winner advances to Australia in 2026.

Nepal will play their 100th international match against Laos on June 29 in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers.

They say the new head coach has injected fresh energy in the squad ahead of their visit to Uzbekistan for the group-stage qualifiers of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

The qualifiers will see Nepal facing Laos on June 29 in Group F.

The 2-1 defeat not only ends Nepal’s unbeaten streak against Laos but also deepens their challenges in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification race.

More than half of the players who played against Manchester United on May 30 figured in Starting XI against Nepal.

Wilde has over 20 years of experience with successes in national and international football. He also has a Bachelor’s in Sports Education and Pedagogy.

It was the second friendly between Nepal and Thailand after Friday’s closed-door friendly which Nepal had lost as well, but with the margin of only one goal.

Head coach Matt Ross and skipper Kiran Chemjong say the bonding between players and their determination have improved since the high-altitude training in Manang.

The book touches on the century-long history of football in the Himalayas.

Nepal’s youngsters have a history of a dismal showing at the qualifiers.

With a pro-license coach joining after the Thailand trip, the Nepali women’s team aims for historic Asian Cup qualification to move closer to the World Cup and Olympics.

Veteran football journalist Himesh’s debut book—‘Swarnakatha: Nepali Footballko’—is more than a tribute to the sport. It’s a wake-up call for authorities to step up record-keeping.

The football governing body bets on youth, clubs, and futsal as it looks to deepen football’s roots and raise standards across South Asia.

A total of 244 goals were scored throughout the season, including eight own goals—each by a different player. Excluding own goals, 111 individual players found the back of the net.