The Nepal Women’s National Football Team is facing a race against time to secure fixtures in the upcoming July FIFA International Window (July 8th-16th). With less than a week remaining, there haven’t been any official announcements of matches.
This would mark the third consecutive window missed by Nepal, following the April and May windows. The current situation stems from the unfortunate cancellation of the Cedars International Women’s Football Tournament in Lebanon due to the ongoing regional conflict. Bangladesh, another participant, has secured alternative friendlies against Bhutan, with talks of a potential Tri-Nation tournament involving Nepal falling silent.
The team’s last competitive outing was the WAFF Women’s Championship final in February. Their impressive performance there, coupled with growing fan support, makes the lack of regular matches even more concerning.
A Crucial Window for Nepal
The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) needs to take swift action to secure matches for the team. With Nepal hosting the 7th SAFF Women’s Championship in October, international exposure during the July window is critical. The team has reportedly been training in a closed camp for a month, but competitive matches are essential to test their readiness and boost their FIFA ranking (currently a commendable 98th). A higher ranking could translate into a more favorable group draw for upcoming Asian Cup qualifiers, providing a significant advantage.
