Rifa, Bahrain: Nepal succumbed to a comprehensive 5-0 defeat against Bahrain in its latest FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier. The thrashing at the Bahrain National Stadium extended Nepal’s losing streak to three in Group H, leaving its qualification hopes hanging by a thread.

The home side, Bahrain, were ruthless from the outset. Mahdi Al Humaidan opened the scoring within two minutes, followed by a quickfire second from Saiyad Bakar in the ninth. Nepal, already reeling, conceded a crucial third goal just before halftime, extinguishing any faint hopes of a comeback.

Despite the switch in venue – initially slated for Nepal’s Dashrath Stadium but moved due to concerns over its condition – Nepal failed to adapt. They found themselves two goals down within the opening ten minutes and were never indeed in the contest.

The second half offered a glimmer of hope with a more resolute Nepali defence. However, Bahrain continued to dominate, adding two more late goals through Ibrahim Al Khatal and Ismail Abdulatif (penalty).

This comprehensive defeat exposes the gulf in class between the two sides. Despite introducing four debutants – Abhishek Limbu, Saubhagya Rai, Sameer Tamang, and Sanjeeb Bista – Nepal lacked the experience and composure to compete against a well-drilled Bahraini outfit.

Nepal now faces the monumental task of salvaging its qualification campaign. They sit rock-bottom in Group H and desperately need a turnaround in their remaining fixtures.