The 2026 ANFA National League (officially National League 2082) is the 3rd edition of the Nepal National League. The competition features 17 teams competing in a single round-robin format. The champions or the highest ranked team with a national license will qualify for the 2026–27 AFC Challenge League preliminary stage. The league was postponed on 20 March, after foreign players were found to be participating without work permits.
Teams The following 17 teams compete in the 2026 National League, 11 from the 2023 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League, 2 promoted from the 2025 Martyr's Memorial B-Division League and 4 that qualified from the 2025 ANFA President League. Himalayan Sherpa Club is the only A-division club not participating in this league.
TeamLocationHead CoachCaptainPrevious seasonAPF FCKathmandu (Halchowk), Bagmati Rajendra TamangTop Bista12th (A-Division)Chitlang FCMakwanpur, Bagmati Prajwal Pratip ChhetriFagu Ram TharuRunner-Up (President)Church Boys UnitedLalitpur (Balkumari), Bagmati Ashok ThapaAnanta Tamang1st (A-Division)Friends ClubLalitpur (Kupondole), Bagmati Ramesh MaharjanRupesh KC11th (A-Division)Jawalakhel YCLalitpur (Jawalakhel), Bagmati Sunil ShresthaYunesh Chaudhary4th (A-Division)Kankre Bihar YCBirendranagar, KarnaliSemi-Final (President)Laligurans Association ClubPokhara, Gandaki Kiran ShresthaRaj BhusalChampion (President)Machhindra FCKathmandu (Jana Bahal), Bagmati Prabesh KatuwalBishal Shrestha2nd (A-Division)Manang Marshyangdi ClubPokhara, Gandaki Sailesh KarmacharyaNava Raj Gurung8th (A-Division)Nawa Jana Jagriti YCJitpursimara, MadheshUmesh SanjelSemi-Final (President)Nepal Police FCKathmandu (Maharajgunj), Bagmati Chetan GhimireRam Wajee3rd (A-Division)New Road TeamKathmandu (New Road), Bagmati Jeevan SinkemanJagajeet Shrestha6th (A-Division)Planning Boyz UnitedBudhanilkantha (Kapan), Bagmati Ganesh KhadkaShankar Tharu1st ()Sankata FCKathmandu (Te Bahal), Bagmati Rabindra SilakarSunil Bal9th (A-Division)Satdobato Youth ClubLalitpur (Satdobato), Bagmati Balgopal Sakhukhala5th (A-Division)Shree Bhagwati ClubTokha, Bagmati Sanoj ShresthaAshok Khawas2nd ()Tribhuvan Army FCKathmandu (Bhadrakali), Bagmati Jitendra KarkiGeorge Prince Karki7th (A-Division)
Foreign players For the 2026 season, ANFA adopted a registration system based on three distinct "Routes," allowing clubs to specialize their recruitment. The SAFF slot is reserved for players from South Asian nations (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Bhutan). Departmental clubs (Army, Police, APF) and Friends Club traditionally do not field foreign players. Club Foreign Player List Club Route Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4-10 SAFF Player Former Players APF FC None None Chitlang FC Route 2 Mathew Babatunde Solomon Ilesanmi Church Boys United Route 2 Abayomi Fakunle Serge Dicka Neymar Friends Club None None Jawalakhel YC Route 2 Nicholas Hamilton Abdul Majid Shamatey Abdulaziz Nishonboev Nicholas Fernandes Kankrebihar Youth Club Route 3 Laligurans AC Route 2 Yves Priso Machhindra FC Route 1 Jonathan Cantillana Sardor Rashidov Daisuke Nomura Manang Marshyangdi Club Route 2 Andrew Ebo Yamoah Olawale Oladipo Nawa Janajagriti Youth Club Route 3 Nepal Police FC None None New Road Team Route 2 Shota Atsumi H. Morimoto Stephen Adams Planning Boyz United Route 2 Sankata FC Route 2 Wendpanga Gilbert Bilgo Satdobato Youth Club Route 2 Farrukh Musabekov Shree Bhagwati Club Route 2 Peter Segun Martins Kayode Ajayi Tribhuvan Army FC None None
League table
Season statistics Top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals1 Jonathan Cantillana Machhindra102 Abayomi Fakunle Church Boys United73 Milan Rai Church Boys United64 Papa KebePlanning Boyz5 Nawayug ShresthaTribhuvan Army Timothy Chiemerie OkerekeNRT7 Fagu Ram TharuPlanning Boyz4 Nirajan Dhami Tribhuvan Army Yubaraj Khadka APF Dharbendra Kunwar Jawalakhel Aashish Gurung Laligurans Nicholas Odane HamiltonJawalakhel
Clean sheets
Rank Player Club Clean sheets1 Yogesh DhimalPlanning Boyz52 Bishal ShresthaMachhindra4 Anjal ShresthaAPF Bikesh Kuthu Tribhuvan Army Tikendra Thapa Jawalakhel 3 Bishal Sunar NRT3
Results The 2026 season is played as a single round-robin format across 17 rounds. Matches are held at the Dasharath Stadium, ANFA Complex and Chyasal Stadium.
Results table
Prize money The following prize structure was established for the 2026 season: Champions: रु 5,000,000 Runners-up: रु 2,500,000 Third place: रु 1,500,000 Fair play: रु 100,000
References