Kathmandu: In the opening match of the second round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier, Nepal encountered a setback with a 4-0 defeat against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The match, held in Dubai, UAE, last night, saw UAE dominating with a commanding performance.

UAE's captain, Ali Mabkhout, showcased his prowess by scoring two goals, while Khalifa Al Hammadi and Fabio Lima contributed one goal each. The UAE team demonstrated a strong offensive strategy, securing all four goals in the first half and maintaining continuous pressure on Nepal. Hammadi initiated the scoring with the first goal in the 10th minute.

The lead extended with Mabkhout converting a penalty in the 34th minute for the second goal. Mabkhout added another goal to UAE's tally in the 44th minute, and Lima scored the fourth goal during extra time in the first half.

Despite a resilient defensive effort by Nepal in the second half, UAE was unable to find the back of the net. Nepali players, including debutants Anjan Rai, Tshering Lama, and Yogesh Gurung, thwarted repeated attempts by UAE.

Nepal will face Yemen in its second match of the qualifiers on November 21 at the Dasharath Stadium. The national team advanced to the second stage of the qualifiers after defeating Laos.