Bhutan’s senior national football team kicked off their preparations on Thursday for the final round of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers. After earning a spot as the best-ranked losing team from the first round, Bhutan aims to turn its unique high-altitude environment in Thimphu into a competitive advantage. The Dragon Boys will open their campaign against Yemen on March 25 at the Changlimithang Stadium.
The Dragon Boys secured their place in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers with a two-nil victory over Hong Kong in the World Cup Qualifiers in October, 2023. Bhutan is the only team from the first-round eliminations to advance directly to the third round, bypassing the playoff stage.
In the final round of qualifiers, Bhutan will face Yemen, Brunei, and Lebanon in Group B. These matches will follow a home-and-away league format and run from March 25, this year, to March 31, next year.
A squad of 27 players is currently training at Changjiji artificial turf, with two and a half hours of daily sessions for the next two months leading up to the tournament.
The Head Coach of the Senior Men’s National Football Team, Atsushi Nakamura said, “Bhutanese players may not match the physicality of African teams, but we focus on technique and endurance to bridge the gap. Our high-altitude environment in Thimphu is a natural advantage, as every training session here serves as high-altitude training, helping to enhance our players’ stamina and running ability. With the right programmes, we can turn this into a strength.”
“The match on March 25th is crucial for us. A victory will boost our confidence, especially because we have a young team. If we win and top the table, we will secure our chance to compete in Saudi Arabia in 2027. That is why we are working hard and will be giving our best during the preparation,” said Nima Wangdi, the captain of the team.
“Right now, we are preparing both mentally and physically. We are analysing matches of our opponents, including teams like Yemen and Lebanon, to understand their strategies. Physically, we are training hard at Changjiji. With 61 days remaining until the match, we are fully committed to our preparations and will continue to give our all until the final whistle,” Jignam Seltob Dorji, one of the defenders of the team.
18 teams have already qualified as group winners and runners-up from the second round, securing their spots in the final tournament.
The top teams from each of the six groups in the qualifiers will advance to the 19th edition of the AFC Asian Cup in 2027, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5, 2027.
Karma Wangdi
Edited by Kipchu
