Bhutan national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bhutan

Nickname(s)	དྲག་པོའི་བུ་ཚུ (Dragon Boys)
Association	Bhutan Football Federation (BFF)
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	183 1 ( 04 June, 2025 )
Highest	159 (June 2015)
Lowest	209 (November 2014 – March 2015)
Elo ranking
Current	232 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 Bhutan national football team is also known as the "Dragon Boys." This team plays for Bhutan in international men's football games. The Bhutan Football Federation manages the team. This federation is part of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). The team plays its home games at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu.

For a long time, Bhutan's team was ranked among the lowest in the world by FIFA and Elo ratings. They have won only a few official games. The team has never made it to the final rounds of a major tournament. Their main competitions have been the regional South Asian Games and the South Asian Football Federation Cup.

Team History

How Football Started in Bhutan

It's not fully clear how football came to Bhutan. During the time when the British ruled India, Bhutan remained independent. So, foreign sports like football didn't arrive in the same way. Football became popular when schools opened in the 1950s. Foreign teachers, mostly from India, introduced the game.

At first, there were no proper fields or equipment. People played on rocky ground with balls made from cloth. As more Bhutanese studied abroad, especially in India, they brought more love for the sport back home.

Early Days and Challenges

In the 1960s, football was popular in towns near the Indian border. Teams would cross the border to play against local teams. In 1968, a team that was supposed to be from Bhutan, but mostly had foreign players, played in India.

Over time, football became a key part of school life. Many school tournaments were held in Thimphu. Teams traveled from all over the country to play. However, for a while, the "national team" still had many foreign players. These players were given jobs in Bhutan just to play football.

By the late 1970s and early 1980s, this team, called Druk 11, played games in Nepal and India. Most of the players were from India. When these foreign players left, it created a big gap in talent for the national team.

First Official Matches

Bhutan played its first official international match quite late, in 1982. They lost 3–1 to Nepal in the ANFA Cup. This was seven years before Bhutan even had its own football league.

In 1984, Bhutan joined the South Asian Games. They lost all their games, finishing last. They kept trying in 1985 and 1987, but still lost all their matches. In 1987, they scored two goals, which was their first time scoring in five years!

A Quiet Period and a Big Loss

After 1987, the national team didn't play any matches until 1999. Even though a national league had started, the team's performance didn't improve. In 1999, they lost 7–0 to Nepal and 3–0 to India. In a game against Pakistan, they scored first, which was a historic moment for them, but still lost 2–1.

In 2000, Bhutan played in the qualifying rounds for the 2000 AFC Asian Cup. They lost 3–0 to Nepal. Then, they faced Kuwait and lost 20–0. This was a world record for the biggest international defeat at the time. Bhutan had two players sent off and gave away four penalties. This record was broken 14 months later when Australia won 22–0 against Tonga. This 20–0 loss remains Bhutan's worst defeat ever. After this, the Bhutan Football Federation became a member of FIFA.

The Other Final

In 2002, Bhutan was ranked as the second-worst national team in the world. Two Dutch advertising partners decided to arrange a match between Bhutan and Montserrat, who were ranked even lower. Montserrat's only football field had been destroyed by a volcano, so they traveled to Bhutan.

The game, called "The Other Final," was played in Bhutan a few hours before the actual 2002 FIFA World Cup Final. Bhutan won 4–0! Wangay Dorji scored three goals, and Dinesh Chhetri scored one. This was Bhutan's first-ever international victory and their first time keeping a clean sheet (not letting the other team score).

Recent Years and World Cup Dreams

Even after their big win, Bhutan struggled in competitive games. Players didn't earn much money from football. In 2003, they lost all their games in the 2003 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup.

However, in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, they beat Guam 6–0. This is still their biggest win! They also drew 0–0 with Mongolia, topping their group. But in the next stage, they faced much stronger teams like Saudi Arabia and lost all games without scoring.

From 2006 to 2009, Bhutan showed some improvement. They drew 0–0 with Brunei in the 2006 AFC Challenge Cup. In the 2008 SAFF Championship, they made history by reaching the semi-finals for the first time! They beat Afghanistan 3–1 and drew with Bangladesh. They lost to India in the semi-finals, but this was their best tournament performance ever.

After this, the team went through a tough period, losing 19 games in a row. They continued to struggle in various tournaments.

First World Cup Qualifiers

In 2015, Bhutan tried to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup for the first time. To help, the Bhutan Football Federation started paying players a monthly salary.

In their first qualifying match, they played Sri Lanka. In the first game in Sri Lanka, Bhutan won 1–0, which was a huge surprise! Tshering Dorji scored the winning goal. Even FIFA president Sepp Blatter praised the win.

The second game was in Bhutan. The government even declared a half-day holiday for students and workers! Chencho Gyeltshen scored early, and then again in injury time, to give Bhutan a 2–1 win (3–1 overall). This meant they moved to the next round of qualifiers! This also guaranteed them a spot in the play-off round for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

In the next round, they faced much stronger teams like China, Qatar, and Hong Kong. They lost heavily in these matches, including a 15–0 loss to Qatar. However, they showed spirit in a 4–3 home defeat to the Maldives, coming back from 4–0 down. The team also played well in a narrow 1–0 home loss to Hong Kong, earning a bonus from the Federation for their effort.

Recent Qualification Attempts

Bhutan continued their journey in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification. They drew 0–0 with Bangladesh in the first leg of a play-off, ending a long losing streak. They then won the second leg 3–1, moving to the third round of qualification. However, they were eliminated after four straight losses, including a 10–0 away loss to Palestine.

In the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, Bhutan won their first home match against Guam 1–0. But they lost the return leg 5–0, so they were eliminated with a 5–1 total score.

As of July 2025, Bhutan is still competing in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification. They drew 0–0 with Yemen in March 2025 and lost 2–1 to Brunei in June 2025.

Team Look

Colours

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

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

The orange colour represents Buddhist traditions. The yellow stands for the King of Bhutan. The dragon design is the Druk, or "Thunder Dragon," a national symbol of Bhutan. The dragon's snarling mouth shows that Bhutanese gods protect the country.

The white in the away kit represents pure thoughts and actions that bring all the people of Bhutan together.

Kit History

Home

2014

2015–2022

2023

Away

2014

2015–2022

2023

Goalkeeper Kit

Home 2023

Away 2023

Logo

The 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 circles stand for the Dragon King and Buddhist traditions. Behind them is a Himalayan blue poppy, Bhutan's national flower. Below this is a special jewel, like the one on Bhutan's official Emblem of Bhutan.

Home Stadium

View of the main stand at Changlimithang Stadium

Changlimithang Stadium is the main stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan. It can hold 15,000 people. It's mostly used for football games 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 and updated in 2007. In 2012, an artificial turf was added to the football field. What's cool is that the football field is open for public use, and it's very popular in Thimphu!

Results and Upcoming Games

Here are some recent and upcoming match results for the Bhutan national football team.

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2024 Matches

Bhutan  v  Bangladesh

5 September Friendly	Bhutan	0–1	Bangladesh	Thimphu, Bhutan
18:00 UTC+6			Morsalin  5'	Stadium: Changlimithang Stadium Referee: Prajwol Chhetri (Nepal)

Bhutan  v  Bangladesh

8 September Friendly	Bhutan	1–0	Bangladesh	Thimphu, Bhutan
18:00 UTC+6	Wangchuk  90+1'			Stadium: Changlimithang Stadium Referee: Prajwol Chhetri (Nepal)

2025 Matches

Bhutan  v  Yemen

25 March 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification	Bhutan	0–0	Yemen	Thimphu, Bhutan
18:00 UTC+6				Stadium: Changlimithang Stadium Attendance: 4,700 Referee: Thoriq Alkatiri (Indonesia)

Bangladesh  v  Bhutan

4 June Friendly	Bangladesh	2–0	Bhutan	Dhaka, Bangladesh
	Hamza  6' Sohel  50'			Stadium: National Stadium Attendance: 17,645 Referee: Kasun Lakmal Weerakkody (Sri Lanka)

Brunei  v  Bhutan

10 June 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification	Brunei	2–1	Bhutan	Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
20:15 UTC+8	Nazirrudin  29' Chetrim  63' (o.g.)		Tshering  90+2'	Stadium: Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium Attendance: 3,158 Referee: Mongkolchai Pechsri (Thailand)

Lebanon  v  Bhutan

9 October 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification	Lebanon	v	Bhutan
--:--

Bhutan  v  Lebanon

14 October 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification	Bhutan	v	Lebanon	Thimphu, Bhutan
--:--				Stadium: Changlimithang Stadium

Yemen  v  Bhutan

18 November 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification	Yemen	v	Bhutan
--:--

2026 Matches

Bhutan  v  Brunei

31 March 2026 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification	Bhutan	v	Brunei	Thimphu, Bhutan
--:--				Stadium: Changlimithang Stadium

Team Staff

Staff
Technical director	Chencho Dorji
Head coach	Atsushi Nakamura
Assistant coach	Kazunori Ishwa Ngawang Jamphel
Goalkeeping coach	Jigme Chogyal Tshering
Fitness coach	Phuntsho Tobgay
Video analyst	Namgyal Tenzin Dorji
Team manager	Ugyen Kinzang Wangchuck

Players

These players were chosen for the match against Yemen on March 25, 2025.

Caps (games played) and goals are updated as of September 8, 2024.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Dendup Namgyel	(2002-08-15) 15 August 2002 (age 22)	1	0	Royal College
21	1GK	Tobgay	(1998-09-29) 29 September 1998 (age 26)	0	0	Tensung
22	1GK	Tenzin Dorji		0	0	Paro
2	2DF	Yeshi Gyeltshen	(2001-10-30) 30 October 2001 (age 23)	2	0	Royal College
3	2DF	Sherub Dorji	(2002-04-17) 17 April 2002 (age 23)	11	0	Royal College
4	2DF	Tenzin Norbu	(2001-05-08) 8 May 2001 (age 24)	8	1	Balga SC
6	2DF	Jignam Seltob Dorji	(2006-01-13) 13 January 2006 (age 19)	0	0	BFF Academy
9	2DF	Tenzin Dorji	(1997-08-18) 18 August 1997 (age 27)	21	0	Druk Lhayul
14	2DF	Kezang Dorji	(2002-04-23) 23 April 2002 (age 23)	2	0	Paro
13	2DF	Jigdrel Wangchuk	(2002-09-12) 12 September 2002 (age 22)	3	0	Transport United
18	2DF	Kinzang Tashi Tobden	(2005-02-03) 3 February 2005 (age 20)	0	0	Thimphu City
19	2DF	Nima Gyeltshen	(2002-12-04) 4 December 2002 (age 22)	0	0	Royal College
5	3MF	Karma Chetrim	(2003-02-20) 20 February 2003 (age 22)	3	0	Ugyen Academy
7	3MF	Rinzin Dorji	(2007-06-04) 4 June 2007 (age 18)	0	0	BFF Academy
8	3MF	Phurba Tenzin	(1999-08-06) 6 August 1999 (age 26)	2	0	Thimphu City
10	3MF	Orgyen Tshering	(1999-09-14) 14 September 1999 (age 25)	9	0	Thimphu City
12	3MF	Pema Zangpo	(2005-03-24) 24 March 2005 (age 20)	2	0	BFF Academy
15	3MF	Nima Wangdi (Captain)	(1998-12-06) 6 December 1998 (age 26)	26	0	Thimphu City
16	3MF	Tshelthrim Namgyel	(2002-07-01) 1 July 2002 (age 23)	11	1	Paro
11	4FW	Kinga Wangchuk	(2002-09-19) 19 September 2002 (age 22)	10	1	Transport United
17	4FW	Kelzang Jigme	(2004-01-17) 17 January 2004 (age 21)	2	0	Royal College
20	4FW	Kinzang Tenzin	(2002-09-19) 19 September 2002 (age 22)	1	0	Royal College
23	4FW	Bikash Pradhan	(2004-01-21) 21 January 2004 (age 21)	4	0	Transport United

Other Players Called Up Recently

These players have also been called to the team within the last year.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Tshering Dendup	(1992-01-21) 21 January 1992 (age 33)	9	0	Thimphu City	v.  Bangladesh; 5 September 2024
GK	Hari Gurung	(1990-02-18) 18 February 1990 (age 35)	31	0	Transport United	v.  Bangladesh; 5 September 2024
DF	Dawa Tshering	(1998-08-21) 21 August 1998 (age 26)	17	0	Delhi	v.  Yemen; 25 March 2025PRE
DF	Pema Dhendup	(2001-02-26) 26 February 2001 (age 24)	4	0	Transport United	v.  Bangladesh; 5 September 2024
DF	Kinley Gyeltshen	(2001-07-20) 20 July 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Royal College	v.  Bangladesh; 5 September 2024
DF	Nima Tshering	(1998-03-07) 7 March 1998 (age 27)	4	0	Paro	v.  Bangladesh; 5 September 2024
MF	Dilip Mongar	(1998-10-15) 15 October 1998 (age 26)	1	0	Transport United	v.  Bangladesh; 5 September 2024
MF	Karma Shedrup Tshering	(1990-04-09) 9 April 1990 (age 35)	39	1	Thimphu City	v.  Bangladesh; 5 September 2024
FW	Chencho Gyeltshen	(1996-05-10) 10 May 1996 (age 29)	46	13	Lalitpur City	v.  Yemen; 25 March 2025INJ
FW	Yeshi Dorji	(2001-10-10) 10 October 2001 (age 23)	6	0	Paro	v.  Bangladesh; 5 September 2024
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 Games Played

Chencho Gyeltshen is Bhutan's top goalscorer and has played the most games.

Top Goal Scorers

Team Rankings

FIFA Rankings

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

Bhutan's highest FIFA ranking was 156th in June 2015. This happened after their exciting wins against Sri Lanka in the World Cup qualifiers. Before that, they were often ranked very low, even last in the world at times. After their World Cup qualifying games, their ranking went down again, but they have been working to improve.

Elo Ratings

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

The team is also ranked low on the Elo ratings, which is another way to rank football teams. Their highest point in the 21st century was 218th in 2008, after their good performance in the 2008 SAFF Championship.

Honours and Awards

Friendly Matches

• The Other Final (1): 2002

Awards

• SAFF Championship Fair Play Award (2): 2005, 2018

Images for kids

• 

  A chart showing how Bhutan's defeat against Kuwait compares to other big losses in international football since 1997.

• 

  Bhutan's team lining up against the Maldives at the 2013 SAFF Championship.

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Bután para niños