Nepalese football league system
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Nepalese football league hierarchy features a comprehensive system encompassing two professional leagues, two semi-professional leagues, and various amateur leagues catering to football clubs across the nation.
No (for women)
| Country | Nepal |
|---|---|
| Sport | Association football |
| Promotion and relegation | Partial (for men) No (for women) |
| National system | |
| Federation | All Nepal Football Association |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Top division |
|
| Second division | Martyr's Memorial B-Division League |
| Association football in Nepal | |
At the top tier stands the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League, inaugurated in 1954. Below it are the semi-professional leagues, including the Martyr's Memorial B-Division League, established in 2003, serving as the second division, and the Martyr's Memorial C-Division League and Martyr's Memorial C-Division League Qualifier, also known as the D-Division, was founded in 2003 and represents the third and fourth divisions, respectively.[1]
Since 2021, a private sector-owned and ANFA-supported professional franchise football league called the Nepal Super League has been organized. Though the league is professional, it is still not included in the league tier system.[2]
For women's football, the premier competition is the ANFA Women's League, previously referred to as the National Women's League of Nepal, which began in 1998.
This structure ensures a pathway for clubs to progress and develop within the Nepalese football ecosystem.
Criticism
Due to poor planning, influence of Political Parties and Corruption after 2015 there is not happening the league and Matches in Nepal.[3][4]
Men's
A-Divisioin League, B-Divisioin League, C-Divisioin League[5] and C-Divisioin League Qualifiers are the top 3 tier Football leagues organized by ANFA and other province leagues organized by the respective province football Association.[6]
Pyramid
| Level | Franchise/Division leagues | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franchise League | Nepal Super League 7 clubs – ↓ No relegation | ||||||
| Tier 1 | Martyr's Memorial A-Division League 14 clubs – ↓ 2 relegation | ||||||
| Tier 2 | Martyr's Memorial B-Division League 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 2 relegations | ||||||
| Tier 3 | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 2 relegations | ||||||
| Tier 4 | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League Qualifiers all clubs can participate in the qualification process – 2 promotions ↑ | ||||||
National League
| Level | National leagues | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Nepal National League
Top 6 Clubs from A- Division League & Top 4 Clubs From ANFA President League | ||||||
| Tier 2 | ANFA President League
Top (4 Clubs) ↑ | ||||||
| Province leagues | |||||||
| Koshi | Madhesh | Bagmati | Gandaki | Lumbini | Karnali | Sudurpashchim | |
| Tier 3 | Koshi Province Premier League
Winner & Runner-up (2 Clubs) ↑ |
Madhesh Province Football League
Winner (1 Club) ↑ |
Bagmati Province Football League
Winner & Runner-up (2 Clubs) ↑ |
Gandaki Province Football League
Winner (1 Club) ↑ |
Lumbini Province Football League
Winner (1 Club) ↑ |
Karnali Province Football League
Winner (1 Club) ↑ |
Sudurpashchim Province Football League
Winner (1 Club) ↑ |
| National Playoff winner (1 Club)↑ | |||||||
| Tier 4 | District Leagues | ||||||
League system
Status evolution
| Professional leagues |
| Semi-professional leagues |
| Amateur leagues |
| Year | Franchise top tier | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | Tier 5 and below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 – 2003 | Martyr's Memorial A-Division League | Different state cups (without top divisions) | ||||
| 2003–2021 | Martyr's Memorial A-Division League | Martyr's Memorial B-Division League | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League | C Division Qualifiers | Different state cups (without top divisions) | |
| 2021 – | Nepal Super League | Martyr's Memorial A-Division League | Martyr's Memorial B-Division League | Martyr's Memorial C-Division League | C Division Qualifiers | Different province leagues (without top divisions) |
Women's
| Level | Leagues |
|---|---|
| 1 | ANFA Women's League |
| 2 | ANFA Women's League Qualifiers |
Youth
| Level | Competition | Age category |
|---|---|---|
| Men's National | ANFA U-18 Youth League | Under-18 |
| ANFA U-16 Youth League | Under-16 | |
| Women's National | ANFA Junior Girl's National Football Championship | Under-17 |
Cup competitions
Major cups
The following tournaments were sanctioned by the All Nepal Football Association for 2019.[7]
| Tournament | City | District | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shahid Bhim Narayan Gold Cup | Dhankuta | Dhankuta | Koshi Province |
| Mai Valley Gold Cup | Ilam | Ilam | |
| Jhapa Gold Cup | Birtamod | Jhapa | |
| Damak Gold Cup | Damak | ||
| Dhailadubba Gold Cup | Kankai | ||
| Mechinagar Gold Cup | Mechinagar | ||
| Birat Gold Cup | Biratnagar | Morang | |
| Falgunanda Gold Cup | Phidim | Panchthar | |
| Budha Subba Gold Cup | Dharan | Sunsari | |
| Manmohan Duhabi Gold Cup | Duhabi | ||
| Madan Bhandari Invitational Itahari Gold Cup | Itahari | ||
| Udayapur Gold Cup | Gaighat | Udayapur | |
| Taplejung Gold Cup | Phungling | Taplejung | |
| Simara Gold Cup | Jitpur Simara | Bara | Madhesh Province |
| Bishal Memorial Gold Cup | Birgunj | Parsa | |
| Rajashree Janak Gold Cup | Lalbandi | Sarlahi | |
| Bikash Shield Football Tournament | Bharatpur | Chitwan | Bagmati Province |
| Hetauda Gold Cup | Hetauda | Makawanpur | |
| Kavre Gold Cup | Dhulikhel | Kavrepalanchok | |
| Nuwakot Gold Cup | Bidur | Nuwakot | |
| Sindhu Cup | Lamosangu | Sindhupalchowk | |
| Aaha Rara Gold Cup | Pokhara | Kaski | Gandaki Province |
| Pokhara Cup | |||
| Pokhara International Football Tournament | |||
| Nepalgunj Gold Cup | Nepalgunj | Banke | Karnali Province |
| Tilottama Gold Cup | Butwal | Rupandehi | |
| Suduspaschim Khaptad Gold Cup | Dhangadhi | Kailali | Sudurpashchim Province |
Other cups
- ANFA Cup (1980–2009)
- San Miguel Itahari Gold Cup (2007)
- Mahendra Gold Cup (1982–2004)
- Khukuri Gold Cup (1998–2004)
- Birendra Memorial Cup (2002)
- Birthday Cup* (1982–2005)
- Devi Maya Memorial Shield (1953)
- Tribhuvan Challenge Shield** (1948–1986)
- National League Cup (1985–1999)
- Ram Janaki Football Tournament
- KP Oli Cup
- Pokhara Cup
- *Founded in 1974 to commemorate the 29th birthday of King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah.
- **Founded in 1948 by King Tribhuvan.