Nepal qualified for the second round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers by defeating Laos 1-0 in the second leg of the first round at the National Stadium in Vientiane on Tuesday.

This gave Nepal a 2-1 aggregate win after the first leg ended in a 1-1 draw at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu.

Manish Dangi scored the match’s only goal in the 53rd minute, directing Anjan Bista’s pass to the post.

Defender Amrit Shrestha made his international debut for Nepal in this match, coming in place of Gelespijang Karki during injury time.
In the 18th minute, goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu saved Mikel Van’s powerful shot, and Nepal’s danger was averted.

In the 29th minute, Laos lost another golden opportunity when Fauthavong Sangvile’s pass deflected Choni Wanpasserth’s shot.

Manish Dangi’s shot went wide of the goalpost in the 48th minute. Laos goalkeeper Sheshebhat saved Manish’s shot in the 65th minute.

In the 73rd minute, Gellespijung Karki’s header went off the post, and Nepal could not double the lead. After 9 minutes, Anjan’s header went wide of the post.

Nepal will now compete with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Yemen, and Bahrain in Group ‘H’ of the second round. After competing with each other on a home and away basis in the second round, the group’s top two teams will advance to the third round.