The team awarded a 3-0 win against Malaysia faces risk of FIFA suspension.

Nepal's football is at risk of receiving a penalty from FIFA, after the conflict erupted between the Nepal Football Association and the National Sports Council.

Nepal's football is facing one of the most severe crises in its recent history after a conflict arose between the Nepal Football Association (ANFA) and the National Sports Council (NSC).

Prior to the 2026 World Cup qualifying round, ANFA, under the leadership of President Pankaj Bikram Nembang, argued that holding early elections would bring long-term stability. However, NSC deemed this move a violation of Nepal's National Sports Development Law and took firm measures.

This agency suspended all activities related to ANFA, temporarily suspended the executive committee for three months, and halted the election process. This decision had a severe impact, nearly paralyzing football activities in Nepal.

Notably, ANFA is the official organization recognized by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). According to FIFA regulations, this federation must operate independently and autonomously, free from interference by the government or any third party. ANFA also asserted that advancing the election schedule is legal under its own statutes.

On the other hand, NSC enforced the national sports law and accused ANFA of ignoring directives and bypassing legal procedures. Nevertheless, FIFA has repeatedly emphasized that any third-party interference is unacceptable.

A few days ago, FIFA and AFC issued a joint statement, demanding NSC immediately lift the suspension and resume ANFA's election process. These organizations set a deadline of seven days; if not complied with, ANFA will be suspended immediately and isolated from international football.

The conflict between ANFA and NSC has plunged Nepal's football into a frozen state. The national championship and women's league were postponed, while youth tournaments were also canceled midway. Many clubs found themselves without match schedules or revenue sources.

This crisis also forced the Nepal Women's U20 national team to withdraw from the 2026 AFC Women's U20 Asian Cup finals. After Nepal's withdrawal, Indonesia was selected as the replacement.

Not only that, the international friendly match between Nepal, the national team that was awarded a 3-0 win against Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, and the Hong Kong national team, scheduled for March 26 at Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu, was also canceled due to NSC's failure to approve the venue and facilities.