Nepal Suffers Heavy Defeat to Bahrain in World Cup Qualifier

Nepal faced a devastating 5-0 loss against Bahrain during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier on Thursday. Despite a spirited effort, Nepal’s performance fell short as Bahrain dominated the game.

Originally scheduled to take place in Nepal, the match was relocated to Bahrain due to concerns over the condition of the Dashrath Stadium’s pitch, as deemed by the AFC.

Bahrain took an early lead with Mahdi Al-Humaidan finding the net in the second minute. Sayed Baqer extended Bahrain’s lead in the ninth minute, putting Nepal on the back foot from the start.

Although Nepal showed glimpses of promise, Bahrain continued their dominance, with Adli Madan scoring their third goal just before halftime.

In the second half, Bahrain sealed their victory with goals from Ibrahim Al-Khatal in the 87th minute and Ismail Abdullatif in the 96th minute.

This defeat marks Nepal’s third consecutive loss in the qualifiers, following defeats against UAE and Yemen in Group H. With no points secured so far, Nepal faces an uphill battle in the tournament.

Nepal will have another chance to redeem themselves as they prepare to face Bahrain again on Tuesday, hoping to turn the tide in their favor.