Nepal is set to face Hong Kong in a rare international football friendly on Thursday, nearly 37 years after the two sides last met. The match, to be held at So Kon Po Stadium in Hong Kong, kicks off at 5:45 pm Nepali time.

The previous and only encounter between the two nations dates back to 1988 during the Asian Cup Qualifiers in Kathmandu, which ended in a goalless draw.

This time, the friendly serves as a key preparatory fixture for Nepal ahead of their upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. Under head coach Matt Ross, the team is looking to evaluate its progress and readiness, with Laos being their next competitive opponent.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Ross expressed both respect for the opponent and confidence in his team’s preparations. “We’ve studied Hong Kong closely. They’re a strong side, but we’ve done our homework,” Ross said.

Nepal’s captain, Kiran Kumar Limbu, echoed the sentiment, describing the game as an important practice for the challenges ahead. “This match will help us identify areas of improvement before we face Laos,” he said, adding, “We respect Hong Kong and are looking forward to the contest.”

Nepal held a late training session at the match venue on Wednesday evening.

Hong Kong recently played an exhibition match against English Premier League giants Manchester United, losing 3-1. According to the latest FIFA rankings, Hong Kong is 22 places ahead of Nepal.

Thursday’s fixture could also be historic for Nepali forward Anjan Bista, who is on the verge of becoming the nation’s all-time top goal scorer.

Coach Ross said the match would be used as a performance benchmark and promised tactical