Bhutan, Nepal kick off qualifying for Russia 2018
Print Edition
THE long road to Russia 2018 kicks off in the outposts of Asia today with the world’s worst international team, Bhutan, making its World Cup qualifying debut and eyeing a first win of any sorts since 2008.
The small Himalayan nation, ranked last of the 209 teams in FIFA’s rankings, faces Sri Lanka in steamy Colombo today before the return leg next week at home.
“It is a momentous occasion,” Bhutan Football Federation president Ugyen Tsechup Dorji told BBC World Football.
“Sri Lanka is a team that is not way, way beyond the quality level of football that is being played in Bhutan. It will depend on that particular day, how our boys perform, and we are hopeful.”
Bhutan has only three wins to its name — against Afghanistan, Montserrat and Guam — and was beaten 2-5 by Sri Lanka in their last international match at the 2013 South Asian Football Championships in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The inclusion of Bhutan means it is the first time all 209 FIFA members have attempted to qualify for a World Cup, the world governing body said.
A shock victory for Bhutan’s side would take it through to the second round where the likes of Asian champion Australia, Japan and Iran enter the draw.
Also playing today is Bhutan’s neighbor India, which hosts Nepal with the lengthy qualifying process also determining the teams that will play at the 2019 Asian Cup.
Long dubbed the sleeping giant of world football, India has recalled Englishman Stephen Constantine as coach and although Russia will be a step too far it does hold hopes of making the 24-team Asian Cup.
India and Pakistan, which plays at Yemen today, are the best ranked sides taking part in this first stage of qualifying at joint 171st in the FIFA table.
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