Nepal Football Squad for the upcoming June international matches has been officially announced. Head coach Matt Ross has picked 30 players for the preliminary squad, as confirmed by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). Nepal will first play a friendly against Hong Kong on June 5, followed by a crucial AFC Asian Cup Qualifier match against Laos on June 20.
All selected players in the Nepal Football Squad have been asked to report at the ANFA Complex on Baisakh 17 for the training camp. This camp will help finalize the team for both matches, which are important steps toward Nepal’s AFC journey.
One of the biggest talking points from the Nepal Football Squad announcement is the exclusion of young forward Samir Tamang. He was one of the standout players in the recently concluded NSL 2025, playing a key role for Pokhara Thunders. Many fans expected to see his name in the list, but he was not included even in the preliminary phase.
Also missing from the initial Nepal football squad are defender Padam Bhattarai and midfielder Aditya Shakya from champion side Lalitpur City. Their absence suggests strong competition and changes in the selection approach.
Several experienced players who played in previous friendlies and Asian Cup qualifiers are not in the Nepal squad this time. Defender Randeep Paudel, and forwards Bharat Khawas and Rejin Subba were left out. Bharat and Rejin did not take part in NSL 2025, while Randeep’s form was reportedly not up to the mark.
Nepal Football Squad: Full List of Selected Players
Goalkeepers:
Anjal Shrestha, Bishal Sunar, Deep Karki, Kiran Chemjong
Defenders:
Abhishek Limbu, Amrit Shrestha, Ananta Tamang, Bimal Pandey, Kuldeep Karki, Sanish Shrestha, Suman Shrestha, Yogesh Gurung
Midfielders:
Ayush Ghalan, Arik Bista, Kritish Ratna Chhunju, Kushal Deuba, Laken Limbu, Mani Kumar Lama, Manish Dangi, Rohan Karki, Rohit Chand, Santosh Khatri, Srijan Raj, Sudip Gurung, Sumit Shrestha, Suraj Jyu Thakuri
Forwards:
Anjan Bista, Gillespye Jung Karki, Nirajan Dhami, Subash Bam Thakuri
The Nepal squad now has a mix of experienced names like Kiran Chemjong, Anjan Bista, and Rohit Chand, along with emerging talents like Ayush Ghalan and Manish Dangi. This blend gives coach Matt Ross plenty of options in all areas of the field.
Nepal squad selection reflects the team’s long-term strategy as it prepares for the AFC Asian Cup and other key competitions. The exclusion of in-form players like Samir Tamang may bring criticism, but it also shows the high level of competition among national hopefuls.
The Nepal squad will face Hong Kong on June 5 and take on Laos on June 20. Both games are important not just for results, but also for building team chemistry and finding the right combinations ahead of tougher challenges in Asia.
