The BOB Bhutan Premier League Qualifiers kicked off yesterday at Changlimithang Stadium, with Namlha FC securing a 4–1 victory over BFF Academy. Seven teams are competing in the qualifiers. Only the top two teams will advance for the BOB Bhutan Premier League 2026, Bhutan’s top-tier professional football league.
This year’s qualifiers also mark the return of Thimphu FC to competitive football. Founded in 2014, Thimphu FC competed in the country’s top division for nearly five years. The club finished runners-up in the BOB National League for three consecutive seasons from 2015 to 2017 and were four-time runners-up in the Thimphu League. However, the team has not competed since 2019 and is making its comeback after more than seven years with the aim to reclaim its place among Bhutan’s football elite.
Manoj Adhikari, Manager of Thimphu FC said, “Pre-pandemic time, we were like one of the top elite clubs. And in those days, we played, even I was a player and players like Chencho Gyeltshen and all. The reason is quite personal to the club; we could not continue. But now we are definitely back, and the main idea is to give a platform for the youngsters to play. What we want is to challenge the titans, and we want to win this B and go on to the A and challenge the topmost club.”
The qualifiers will also feature two new entrants, Samdrup Jongkhar FC and United Phuentsholing FC, adding fresh competition to the tournament.
Meanwhile, BFF Academy U-19 will participate as a guest team to gain competitive exposure. Their match results, whether a win, a draw, or a loss, will not affect the official points table.
Other participating clubs include Thimphu Raven FC, BFF Academy U-17, and Namlha FC, all based in Thimphu.
The qualifiers will be played in a single league format. With only two spots available, the battle for a place in the BOB Bhutan Premier League 2026 promises to be intense as teams fight to secure their spot in Bhutan’s top-tier football league.
Thimphu FC will take on Thimphu Raven FC tomorrow.
Namgay Wangdi
