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Bhutan national football team facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Bhutan women's national football team.
Quick facts for kids
Bhutan
Nickname(s) Dragon Boys
Association Bhutan Football Federation
Confederation AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation SAFF (South Asia)
Head coach Atsushi Nakamura
Captain Chencho Gyeltshen
Most caps Chencho Gyeltshen (46)
Top scorer Chencho Gyeltshen (13)
Home stadium Changlimithang Stadium
FIFA code BHU
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 186 Steady (7 February 2019)
Highest 159 (June 2015)
Lowest 209 (November 2014 – March 2015)
Elo ranking
Current 232 Decrease 2 (3 March 2019)
Highest 184 (April 1982)
Lowest 234 (2015)
First international
Unofficial:
   Nepal 3–1 Bhutan 
(Kathmandu, Nepal; 1 April 1982)
Official:
 Bhutan 0–3 Nepal   
(Kuwait City, Kuwait; 2 February 2000)
Biggest win
 Bhutan 6–0 Guam 
(Thimphu, Bhutan; 23 April 2003)
Biggest defeat
 Kuwait 20–0 Bhutan 
(Kuwait City, Kuwait; 14 February 2000)
SAFF Championship
Appearances 8 (first in 2003)
Best result Semi-finals (2008)
AFC Challenge Cup
Appearances 1 (first in 2006)
Best result Group stage (2006)
The Other Final
Appearances 1 (first in 2002)
Best result Champions (2002)

The Bhutan national football team is the men's football team that represents Bhutan in international matches. They are known as the "Dragon Boys." The team is managed by the Bhutan Football Federation. This organization is part of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).

The team plays its home games at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu. For a long time, Bhutan was one of the lowest-ranked teams in the world. However, they have shown great spirit and have had some memorable moments in their history.

History

How Football Started in Bhutan (1950s–1980s)

It's not fully clear how football first came to Bhutan. In the 1950s, foreign teachers, mostly from India, started schools in places like Haa and Paro. They introduced the game to students.

At first, there were no proper fields or equipment. People played on rocky ground with balls made from cloth. As more Bhutanese students went to study in India, they brought back a greater love for the sport.

By the 1960s, football became popular in towns near the Indian border, like Phuentsholing. Teams would cross the border to play against local teams. In 1968, a team representing Bhutan played in India. However, many players on this "national" team were actually foreigners. These foreign players were even given jobs in Bhutan just to play football.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the team, called Druk 11, played more games. Still, most of its players were from India. When these players retired or left, it created a big challenge for the team.

Bhutan played its first official international match in 1982. They lost 3–1 to Nepal in the ANFA Cup. The team also played in the South Asian Games starting in 1984. They lost all their early games in these tournaments.

Challenges and a Big Loss (1990s–2000s)

After 1987, the national team didn't play any matches for many years. They returned to international play in 1999. Their first game back was a tough 7–0 loss to Nepal. They also lost 3–0 to India.

In 2000, Bhutan played in the qualification rounds for the 2000 AFC Asian Cup. They faced a very strong team from Kuwait. Bhutan lost this game 20–0. This was one of the biggest losses in international football history at the time. After this, the Bhutan Football Federation officially joined FIFA.

The Other Final (2002)

Biggest victories in international association football since 1997
A chart showing how Bhutan's loss to Kuwait compares to other big football scores.

In 2002, Bhutan was ranked as the second-worst team in the world by FIFA. A few Dutch filmmakers had a fun idea. They decided to arrange a match between Bhutan and Montserrat, who were the lowest-ranked team. This game was called "The Other Final." It was played in Bhutan just before the real 2002 FIFA World Cup Final.

Bhutan won the match 4–0! This was their first-ever win on the international stage. Wangay Dorji scored three goals, and Dinesh Chhetri scored one. It was a truly historic moment for Bhutanese football.

Growing and Improving (2003–Present)

Even after their big win, Bhutan still faced challenges. Football players didn't earn much money, and there weren't many trained coaches. In 2003, they lost all their games in the 2003 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup.

However, they had a great moment in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification. They beat Guam 6–0, which is still their biggest win ever! They also drew 0–0 with Mongolia. This helped them move to the next round. But in the next stage, they played much stronger teams and lost all their games.

From 2006 to 2009, Bhutan's results slowly got better. In the 2008 SAFF Championship, they made history. They drew with Bangladesh and beat Afghanistan 3–1. This meant they reached the semi-finals for the first time! They lost to India in a very close game, but reaching the semi-finals was their best tournament performance ever.

After this, the team went through a tough period. They lost many games in a row. Money for players was still a problem. In 2014, the Football Federation stopped monthly payments to national team players.

2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification

In 2015, Bhutan tried to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time. To help players, the Federation started offering a monthly salary.

In their first qualifying match, they played Sri Lanka. In the first game in Sri Lanka, Bhutan won 1–0! This was a huge surprise. Even FIFA president Sepp Blatter praised their "historic moment."

The second game was in Bhutan, and the stadium was packed. Chencho Gyeltshen, Bhutan's only professional player at the time, scored early. Sri Lanka equalized, but Chencho scored again in injury time. Bhutan won 2–1, and 3–1 overall! They moved to the next round of World Cup qualifiers. This also guaranteed them a spot in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup play-off round.

In the next round, Bhutan faced much stronger teams like China and Qatar. They lost all these games, including a 15–0 loss to Qatar. This was their heaviest defeat since the 20–0 loss to Kuwait.

Recent Qualifications

In 2016, Bhutan played Bangladesh in the Asian Cup qualifiers. They drew the first game 0–0. Then, they won the second game 3–1, moving on to the next round! However, they were later eliminated after losing to stronger teams like Palestine.

For the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, Bhutan won their first match against Guam 1–0 at home. But they lost the return leg 5–0, which meant they were eliminated.

Team Image

Colours

Flag of Bhutan
The flag of Bhutan, which inspires the team's colours.

Bhutan's home kit is orange shirts with yellow details and a yellow dragon. They wear orange shorts and socks. Their away kit is mostly white with orange details and an orange dragon. These colors and patterns are very similar to the Flag of Bhutan.

The orange color represents Buddhist traditions in Bhutan. The yellow color, seen in the trim and the dragon, stands for the King of Bhutan. The dragon itself is the Druk, or "Thunder Dragon," a national symbol of Bhutan. The white color in the away kit shows the purity and unity of all the people in Bhutan.

Kit history

Home

2014
2015–2022
2023

Away

2014
2015–2022
2023

Goalkeeper Kit

Home 2023
Away 2023

The national team's logo is the same as the Bhutan Football Federation's. It shows a football inside two circles, one yellow and one orange. These colors represent the King and Buddhist traditions. The logo also features a Himalayan blue poppy, which is Bhutan's national flower.

Home Stadium

Changlimethang Stadium Thimphu 080907
A view of the main stand at Changlimithang Stadium.

The Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu is Bhutan's national stadium. It can hold 15,000 people. It's mainly used for football matches and is home to the national team and local clubs. The stadium also hosts major archery tournaments, which is Bhutan's national sport.

The stadium was built in 1974. It was updated in 2007 and got floodlights in 2009. In 2012, an artificial pitch was added. What's cool is that the football field is available for public use. It's very popular with people in Thimphu.

Results and fixtures

This section shows the team's recent match results and upcoming games.

Technical Staff

This table shows the current coaching and support staff for the national team.

Head coach Japan Atsushi Nakamura
Technical director Bhutan Chencho Dorji
Team manager Bhutan Ugyen Kinzang Wangchuck
Fitness coach Bhutan Phuntsho Tobgay
Video analyst Bhutan Namgyal Tenzin Dorji
Goalkeeping coach Bhutan Jigme Chogyal Tshering

Coaching History

Here's a list of the coaches who have led the Bhutan national football team over the years.

Coach Dates P W D L Win %
South Korea Byung-chan, KangKang Byung-chan
2000–02
 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05 &0&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00.0
South Korea Kee-heung, YooYoo Kee-heung
2002
 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 !—
Netherlands Schans, ArieArie Schans
2002–03
 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01 &&&&&&&&&&&&&050.&&&&&050.0
Netherlands Walk, HenkHenk Walk
2003
 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04 &0&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00.0
Bhutan Basnet, KhareKhare Basnet
2003–08
 &&&&&&&&&&&&&023.&&&&&023 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05 &&&&&&&&&&&&&015.&&&&&015 &&&&&&&&&&&&&013.&&&&&013.0
Japan Gyotoku, KojiKoji Gyotoku
2008–10
 &&&&&&&&&&&&&014.&&&&&014 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02 &&&&&&&&&&&&&011.&&&&&011 &0&&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.1000007.1
Japan Matsuyama, HiroakiHiroaki Matsuyama
2010–12
 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07 &0&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00.0
Japan Ohara, KazunoriKazunori Ohara
2012–14
 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04 &0&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00.0
Bhutan Nima, ChokeyChokey Nima
2015
 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&0100.&&&&&0100.00
Japan Tsukitate, NorioNorio Tsukitate
2015
 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04 &0&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00.0
Bhutan Dorji, PemaPema Dorji
2015–16
 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07 &0&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00.0
Germany Spittler, TorstenTorsten Spittler
2016–17
 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04 &&&&&&&&&&&&&020.&&&&&020.0
Bhutan Dorji, ChenchoChencho Dorji
2017–18
 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01 &0&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00.0
England Morgan, TrevorTrevor Morgan
2018
 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05 &0&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00.0
Bhutan Dorji, PemaPema Dorji
2019–23
 &&&&&&&&&&&&&012.&&&&&012 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08 &&&&&&&&&&&&&025.&&&&&025.0
South Korea Kim Tae-in
2024
 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02 &0&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00.0
Japan Atsushi Nakamura
2024–
 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00 !—

Coached in an interim capacity.

Players

These are the players who were chosen for the squad in September 2024.

Caps (games played) and goals are updated as of September 5, 2024.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Tshering Dendup (1992-01-21) 21 January 1992 (age 33) 9 0 Bhutan Druk Lhayul
19 1GK Dendup Namgyel (2002-08-15) 15 August 2002 (age 22) 0 0 Bhutan Royal College
21 1GK Hari Gurung (1990-02-18) 18 February 1990 (age 35) 31 0 Bhutan Transport United
2 2DF Yeshi Gyeltshen (2001-10-30) 30 October 2001 (age 23) 1 0 Bhutan Royal College
3 2DF Sherub Dorji (2002-04-17) 17 April 2002 (age 23) 11 0 Bhutan Royal College
5 2DF Nima Tshering (1998-03-07) 7 March 1998 (age 27) 4 0 Bhutan Paro
6 2DF Pema Dhendup (2001-02-26) 26 February 2001 (age 24) 3 0 Bhutan Transport United
9 2DF Tenzin Dorji (1997-08-18) 18 August 1997 (age 27) 20 0 Bhutan Druk Lhayul
14 2DF Kezang Dorji (2002-04-23) 23 April 2002 (age 23) 5 0 Bhutan Paro
17 2DF Dawa Tshering (1998-08-21) 21 August 1998 (age 26) 16 0 India Delhi
20 2DF Kinley Gyeltshen (2001-07-20) 20 July 2001 (age 23) 0 0 Bhutan Royal College
24 2DF Jigdrel Wangchuk (2002-09-12) 12 September 2002 (age 22) 2 0 Bhutan Transport United
4 3MF Karma Chetrim (2003-02-20) 20 February 2003 (age 22) 3 0 Bhutan Ugyen Academy
7 3MF Phurba Tenzin (1999-08-06) 6 August 1999 (age 25) 1 0 Bhutan Ugyen Academy
8 3MF Karma Shedrup Tshering (Vice-captain) (1990-04-09) 9 April 1990 (age 35) 38 1 Bhutan Thimphu City
10 3MF Orgyen Tshering (1999-09-14) 14 September 1999 (age 25) 8 0 Bhutan Thimphu City
12 3MF Kelzang Jigmi (2003-01-16) 16 January 2003 (age 22) 1 0 Bhutan Royal College
13 3MF Dilip Mongar (1998-10-15) 15 October 1998 (age 26) 1 0 Bhutan Transport United
15 3MF Nima Wangdi (Captain) (1998-12-06) 6 December 1998 (age 26) 25 0 Bhutan Thimphu City
16 3MF Tshelthrim Namgyel (2002-07-01) 1 July 2002 (age 22) 10 1 Bhutan Paro
11 4FW Kinga Wangchuk (2002-09-19) 19 September 2002 (age 22) 9 0 Bhutan Transport United
18 4FW Kelzang Jigmi (2004-01-17) 17 January 2004 (age 21) 1 0 Bhutan Royal College
22 4FW Yeshi Dorji (2001-10-10) 10 October 2001 (age 23) 5 0 Bhutan Paro
23 4FW Bikash Pradhan (2004-01-21) 21 January 2004 (age 21) 3 0 Bhutan Transport United

Recent Call-ups

These players have also been part of the national team squad in the last year.


Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Gyeltshen Zangpo (1998-06-06) 6 June 1998 (age 27) 3 0 Bhutan Paro v.  Sri Lanka; 25 March 2024
GK Tobgay (1998-09-29) 29 September 1998 (age 26) 0 0 Bhutan Tensung v.  Hong Kong; 17 October 2023
DF Kinley Penjor (1990-12-27) 27 December 1990 (age 34) 1 0 Bhutan Transport United v.  Sri Lanka; 25 March 2024
DF Phuntsho Jigme (1997-09-11) 11 September 1997 (age 27) 9 0 Bhutan Thimphu City v.  Hong Kong; 17 October 2023
DF Tenzin Norbu (2001-05-08) 8 May 2001 (age 24) 8 1 Bhutan Thimphu City v.  Hong Kong; 17 October 2023
DF Chimi Tshewang (2000-05-14) 14 May 2000 (age 25) 2 0 Bhutan Paro v.  Hong Kong; 17 October 2023
MF Lobzang Chogyal (1996-09-22) 22 September 1996 (age 28) 5 1 Bhutan Paro v.  Sri Lanka; 25 March 2024
MF Phub Thinley (1997-10-11) 11 October 1997 (age 27) 6 0 Bhutan Paro v.  Hong Kong; 17 October 2023
MF Phurba Wangchuk (1996-02-16) 16 February 1996 (age 29) 1 0 Bhutan Paro v.  Hong Kong; 17 October 2023
FW Chencho Gyeltshen (1996-05-10) 10 May 1996 (age 29) 46 13 Indonesia Sriwijaya v.  Sri Lanka; 25 March 2024
FW Tsenda Dorji (1995-02-12) 12 February 1995 (age 30) 9 1 Bhutan Thimphu City v.  Sri Lanka; 25 March 2024
FW Jetsuen Dorji (2006-08-04) 4 August 2006 (age 18) 1 0 Bhutan BFF Academy v.  Sri Lanka; 25 March 2024
FW Nyenda Yoesel (2004-04-02) 2 April 2004 (age 21) 1 0 Bhutan BFF Academy v.  Sri Lanka; 25 March 2024
FW Jignam Seltobb Dorji 0 0 Bhutan BFF Academy v.  Sri Lanka; 25 March 2024
FW Karma Sonam (2001-08-08) 8 August 2001 (age 23) 6 0 Bhutan Royal College v.  Hong Kong; 17 October 2023
FW Dorji Dorji (1995-11-11) 11 November 1995 (age 29) 9 1 Bhutan Thimphu City v.  Hong Kong; 17 October 2023

INJ Withdrew due to injury
PRE Preliminary squad / standby
RET Retired from the national team
SUS Serving suspension
WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.

Player Records

Players in bold are still active with Bhutan.

Most Appearances

CHENCHO (cropped)
Chencho Gyeltshen is Bhutan's top goalscorer and their most capped player.

This table shows the players who have played the most games for Bhutan.

Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Chencho Gyeltshen 46 13 2011–present
2 Karma Shedrup Tshering 39 1 2011–present
3 Passang Tshering 36 5 2003–2015
4 Hari Gurung 32 0 2009–present
5 Pema Dorji 31 0 2003–2013
Tshering Dorji 31 5 2011–2019
7 Jigme Tshering Dorji 29 1 2011–2019
8 Nawang Dhendup 27 2 2003–2011
Kinley Dorji 27 1 2002–2011
10 Nima Wangdi 26 0 2016–present

Top Goalscorers

This table lists the players who have scored the most goals for Bhutan.

Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Chencho Gyeltshen 13 46 0.28 2011–present
2 Wangay Dorji 5 14 0.36 2002–2008
Tshering Dorji 5 31 0.16 2011–2019
Passang Tshering 5 36 0.14 2003–2015
5 Dinesh Chhetri 2 11 0.18 2002–2003
Nawang Dhendup 2 27 0.07 2003–2011

Competitive Record

This section shows how Bhutan has performed in major football tournaments.

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup Qualification
Year Pld W D* L F A Pld W D* L F A
1930 to 1998 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
2002 to 2014 Did not enter Did not enter
Russia 2018 Did not qualify 10 2 0 8 8 53
Qatar 2022 2 1 0 1 1 5
Canada Mexico United States 2026 2 1 0 1 2 4
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 To be determined To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 4 0 10 11 62

AFC Asian Cup

AFC Asian Cup AFC Asian Cup qualification
Year Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D* L GF GA
Hong Kong 1956 to United Arab Emirates 1996 Did not enter Did not enter
Lebanon 2000 Did not qualify 4 0 0 4 2 42
China 2004 Did not qualify 8 1 1 6 6 26
Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Vietnam 2007
to Australia 2015		 Did not enter Did not enter
United Arab Emirates 2019* Did not qualify 18 3 1 14 13 93
Qatar 2023 2 1 0 1 1 5
Saudi Arabia 2027 To be determined To be determined
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 32 5 2 25 22 166

*: The 2019 qualification also included matches from the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification.

AFC Challenge Cup

AFC Challenge Cup AFC Challenge Cup qualification record
Year Result Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D* L GF GA
Bangladesh 2006 Group stage 3 0 1 2 0 3 No qualification stage
India 2008 Did not qualify 3 0 1 2 1 6
Sri Lanka 2010 Did not qualify 3 0 0 3 0 13
Nepal 2012 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 0 5
Maldives 2014 Did not enter Did not enter
Total Group stage 3 0 1 2 0 3 8 0 1 7 1 24

SAFF Championship

SAFF Championship
Year Result Pld W D* L GF GA
Pakistan 1993 Did not enter
Sri Lanka 1995
Nepal 1997
India 1999
Bangladesh 2003 Group stage 3 0 0 3 0 11
Pakistan 2005 Group stage 3 0 0 3 1 9
Maldives Sri Lanka 2008 Semi-finals 4 1 1 2 5 6
Bangladesh 2009 Group stage 3 0 0 3 0 17
India 2011 Group stage 3 0 0 3 0 16
Nepal 2013 Group stage 3 0 0 3 4 16
India 2015 Group stage 3 0 0 3 1 9
Bangladesh 2018 Group stage 3 0 0 3 0 9
Maldives 2021 Did not participate
India 2023 Group stage 3 0 0 3 2 9
Total Semi-finals 28 1 1 26 13 102
*Denotes draws includes knockout matches decided on penalty kicks. Red border means the tournament was hosted in Bhutan. Gold, silver, bronze backgrounds show 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishes. Bold text means the team's best finish in that tournament.

Head-to-Head Record

This table shows Bhutan's record against other national teams.

Last match updated:  Bangladesh on 8 September 2024.
Opponent Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Diff Win % Loss %
 Afghanistan 6 1 0 5 4 20 −16 17% 83%
 Bangladesh 18 2 2 14 8 41 −33 11,11% 77,77%
 Brunei 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 0% 0%
 Cambodia 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2 0% 100%
 Central African Republic 1 0 0 1 0 6 −6 0% 100%
 China 2 0 0 2 0 18 −18 0% 100%
 Guam 3 2 0 1 7 5 +2 66% 33%
 Hong Kong 4 0 0 4 2 12 −10 25% 75%
 India 6 0 0 6 1 19 −18 0% 100%
 Indonesia 2 0 0 2 0 4 −4 0% 100%
 Kuwait 1 0 0 1 0 20 −20 0% 100%
 Laos 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 0% 100%
 Lebanon 1 0 0 1 1 4 −3 0% 100%
 Macau 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 100% 0%
 Malaysia 1 0 0 1 0 7 −7 0% 100%
 Maldives 10 0 0 10 8 42 −34 0% 100%
 Mongolia 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0% 0%
 Montserrat 1 1 0 0 4 0 +4 100% 0%
   Nepal 15 0 1 14 7 46 −39 0% 93,33%
 Oman 2 0 0 2 2 18 −16 0% 100%
 Pakistan 3 0 0 3 1 12 −11 0% 100%
 [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]] 2 0 0 2 0 12 −12 0% 100%
 Philippines 2 0 0 2 0 4 −4 0% 100%
 Qatar 2 0 0 2 0 18 −18 0% 100%
 Saudi Arabia 2 0 0 2 0 10 −10 0% 100%
 Sri Lanka 8 2 0 6 5 20 −15 25% 75%
 Tajikistan 1 0 0 1 1 3 −2 0% 100%
 Thailand 1 0 0 1 0 5 −5 0% 100%
 Turkmenistan 2 0 0 2 0 15 −15 0% 100%
 Yemen 3 0 0 3 2 23 −21 0% 100%
Official Total 103 9 6 88 54 385 −331 8,73% 85,43%

Unofficial Matches

Opponent Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Diff Win % Loss %
 Bangladesh 2 0 0 2 0 6 −21 0% 100%
Thailand Buriram United 2 0 0 2 0 15 −15 0% 100%
China Guangzhou Football Team 1 0 0 1 1 6 −5 0% 100%
Hong Kong Hong Kong Gurkhas 1 0 1 0 ? ? ? 0% 0%
IndiaIndia B 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3 0% 100%
China Kunming Army Team 1 0 0 1 1 3 −2 0% 100%
Nepal Nepal Red 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 0% 100%
Nepal Nepal Youth 1 0 1 0 ? ? ? 0% 0%
South Korea Soongsil University 1 0 0 1 0 6 −6 0% 100%
 Tibet 2 1 1 0 5 4 +1 0% 0%
Unofficial Total* 13 1 3 9 7 44 −37 0% 70%

NB: Unofficial matches include ANFA Cup games against teams other than the official Nepal national team, four friendly matches against Tibet and Bangladesh, and two charity matches against Buriram United.
*: Includes unofficial matches in the 1986 ANFA Cup against Hong Kong Gurkhas and Nepal Youth. Sources say these were draws, but no scores are available. They are listed as 0–0 for completeness.

Rankings

FIFA Rankings

Bhutan Average FIFA Rankings 2000-2016
Bhutan's average yearly FIFA rankings from 2000 to 2016.

The FIFA rankings show how well national teams are doing compared to others. Bhutan's highest FIFA ranking was 156th in June 2015. This happened after their surprising wins against Sri Lanka in the World Cup qualifiers. Before that, they were often at the very bottom of the rankings.

Elo Ratings

Bhutan Year End Elo Ratings 1984-2016
Bhutan's year-end Elo ratings from 1984 to 2016.

The Elo rating system also ranks football teams. Bhutan is usually very low on this list too. Their best Elo ranking in the 21st century was 218th, after their good performance in the 2008 SAFF Championship.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Bután para niños

  • Bhutan national under-23 football team
  • Bhutan national under-20 football team
  • Bhutan national under-17 football team
  • Bhutan national futsal team
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