Bhutan will host Group J of the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers in Thimphu later this month. With less than two weeks to go, the Dragon Boys are stepping up preparations for three matches against Singapore, Chinese Taipei and Macau. While playing at home gives Bhutan a familiar setting, hosting the qualifiers is also expected to bring wider technical and economic benefits to the country.
Preparations are entering the final phase for Bhutan’s Under-20 national football team as it prepares to face three regional opponents.
Drawing on experience from the Bhutan Premier League, the squad has been working on its physical and mental readiness, while also focusing on team bonding and building understanding among the players.
“We’re now down to almost two weeks before the AFC U20. For this game, we are preparing our boys physically, mentally, and for team bonding. We got good experience by playing BPL, and we are going into the tournament with good preparation,” said Karma Dema, Assistant Coach, Bhutan Football Federation.
Bhutan will open its campaign against Singapore on 31 of this month, followed by Chinese Taipei on 3 September and Macau on 6 September.
For the Bhutan Football Federation, hosting the group is also a reflection of the country’s growing capacity to organise international competitions.
Bhutan Football Federation says recent infrastructure upgrades, along with improved hospitality, hotel facilities, air connectivity and experience in hosting international tournaments, have strengthened Bhutan’s capacity to host international matches.
“We have two benefits, one on the technical side and one on the financial side. On the technical side, because it is a home team, there is a home advantage. The altitude, climate, and home crowd support can also benefit our boys,” said Phuntsho Wangdi, Director of Operations, Bhutan Football Federation.
Hosting the tournament is also expected to generate economic activity.
“For hosting, we get a certain amount of money from AFC to host it, which also contributes to the local economy and to the airline, because three teams have to fly in. Second is the hotel benefits because we will be using hotels for maybe 10 or 15 days. Local transportation businesses, like hiring buses or guides, benefit. And also, it contributes, in a sense, to the restaurants and other handicrafts also,” said Phuntsho Wangdi, Director of Operations, Bhutan Football Federation.
The AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 will be the 43rd edition of the tournament, with China hosting the 16-team finals.
With three matches coming up in six days, the team will look to turn its final days of preparation, home conditions and the support of the home crowd into results when the qualifiers begin.
Namgay Wangdi
