KATHMANDU, July 2: Head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese has called up 30 players to the preliminary squad for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
Annese has decided to leave six players from the squad who were part of the recently held SAFF Championship.
Notable absentees from the squad include Bishal Shrestha, Nishan Khadka, Nabin Lama, Mani Kumar Lama, Pujan Uparkoti and Dipak Raj Singh Thakuri.
The All Nepal Football Association said the national team’s training camp will begin on August 1.
Vincenzo Alberto Annese is the head coach of the Nepali nationa...
The draw for the first qualifying round will be held on July 27 and the home-and-away legs will be played on October 12 and October 17.
If Nepal wins, they will reach the second qualification round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
Preliminary squad:
Goalkeepers: Kiran Kumar Limbu (RG Punjab FC), Anish Deula (Jawalakhel Youth Club), Deep Karki (Manang Marsyangdi Club), Abhishek Baral (Satdobato Youth Club)
Defenders: Bimal Panday (Tribhuvan Army FC), Sanish Shrestha (APF Football Club), Ananta Tamang (Church Boys United), Devendra Tamang (Machhindra Football Club), Ashish Gurung (Manang Marsyangdi Club), Rohit Chand (Persic Kedri), Simanta Thapa (Jawalakhel Youth Club), Anjal Maharjan (Friends Club), Chhiring Lama (Jawalakhel Youth Club), Anjan Rai (Nepal Police Club)
Midfielders: Arik Bista (Church Boys United), Sudip Gurung (Satdobato Youth Club), Laken Limbu (Three Star Club), Awas Lamichhane (APF Football Club), Utsav Rai (Machhindra Football Club), Bishal Tamang (Jawalakhel Youth Club), Bibek Poudel (Church Boys United), Kritish Ratna Chhunju (NRT)
Forwards: Ayush Ghalan (Sankata Club), Nawayug Shrestha (Tribhuvan Army FC), Anjan Bista (Church Boys United), Manish Dangi (Sankata Club), Aashish Chaudhary (Church Boys United), Bimal Gharti Magar (Machhindra Football Club), Gillespye Jung Karki (Tribhuvan Army FC), Dinesh Henjan (Tribhuvan Army FC)
