No ground, no game: Why Nepal’s football dream is dying at grassroots?
Summary
Nepal’s football pipeline is shrinking as open grounds disappear, community clubs fade and children are pushed toward expensive futsal courts. The article argues that urbanization, commercialized facilities and the loss of grassroots spaces are undermining the country’s chances of producing top-level players.
Key Points
- Nepal’s failure to qualify for the World Cup is linked to weak grassroots football and the decline of community-level play, not just ANFA’s administrative problems.
- Rapid urbanization in Kathmandu Valley has erased many open grounds, leaving children with few affordable places to play football.
- Private futsal courts and school facilities are often expensive or inaccessible, limiting opportunities for lower-income children.
- The article says vacant land, including space cleared from Bishnumati River squatters, could be turned into community sports grounds.
