Nepalese football league system

Nepalese football league system

Country	Nepal
Sport	Association football
Promotion and relegation	Partial (for men) No (for women)
National system
Federation	All Nepal Football Association
Confederation	AFC
Top division	A-Division League (men) ANFA Women's League (women)
Second division	Martyr's Memorial B-Division League
Association football in Nepal

The Nepalese football league hierarchy features a comprehensive system encompassing two professional leagues, two semi-professional leagues, and various amateur leagues catering to football clubs across the nation.

At the top tier stands the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League, inaugurated in 1954. Below it are the semi-professional leagues, including the Martyr's Memorial B-Division League, established in 2003, serving as the second division, and the Martyr's Memorial C-Division League and Martyr's Memorial C-Division League Qualifier, also known as the D-Division, was founded in 2003 and represents the third and fourth divisions, respectively. ^[1]

Since 2021, a private sector-owned and ANFA-supported professional franchise football league called the Nepal Super League has been organized. Though the league is professional, it is still not included in the league tier system. ^[2]

For women's football, the premier competition is the ANFA Women's League, previously referred to as the National Women's League of Nepal, which began in 1998.

This structure ensures a pathway for clubs to progress and develop within the Nepalese football ecosystem.

Criticism

Due to poor planning, influence of Political Parties and Corruption after 2015 there is not happening the league and Matches in Nepal. ^{[3] [4]}

Men's

A-Divisioin League, B-Divisioin League, C-Divisioin League ^[5] and C-Divisioin League Qualifiers are the top 3 tier Football leagues organized by ANFA and other province leagues organized by the respective province football Association. ^[6]

Pyramid

Level	Franchise/Division leagues
Franchise League	Nepal Super League 7 clubs – ↓ No relegation
Tier 1	Martyr's Memorial A-Division League 14 clubs – ↓ 2 relegation
Tier 2	Martyr's Memorial B-Division League 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 2 relegations
Tier 3	Martyr's Memorial C-Division League 14 clubs – 2 promotions ↑↓ 2 relegations
Tier 4	Martyr's Memorial C-Division League Qualifiers all clubs can participate in the qualification process – 2 promotions ↑

National League

Level	National leagues
Tier 1	Nepal National League Top 6 Clubs from A- Division League & Top 4 Clubs From ANFA President League
Tier 2	ANFA President League Top (4 Clubs) ↑
	Province leagues
	Koshi	Madhesh	Bagmati	Gandaki	Lumbini	Karnali	Sudurpashchim
Tier 3	Koshi Province Premier League Winner & Runner-up (2 Clubs) ↑	Madhesh Province Football League Winner (1 Club) ↑	Bagmati Province Football League Winner & Runner-up (2 Clubs) ↑	Gandaki Province Football League Winner (1 Club) ↑	Lumbini Province Football League Winner (1 Club) ↑	Karnali Province Football League Winner (1 Club) ↑	Sudurpashchim Province Football League Winner (1 Club) ↑
	National Playoff winner (1 Club)↑
Tier 4	District Leagues

League system

Status evolution

Professional leagues

Semi-professional leagues

Amateur leagues

Year	Franchise top tier	Tier 1	Tier 2	Tier 3	Tier 4	Tier 5 and below
1954 – 2003		Martyr's Memorial A-Division League	Different state cups (without top divisions)
2003–2021		Martyr's Memorial A-Division League	Martyr's Memorial B-Division League	Martyr's Memorial C-Division League	C Division Qualifiers	Different state cups (without top divisions)
2021 –	Nepal Super League	Martyr's Memorial A-Division League	Martyr's Memorial B-Division League	Martyr's Memorial C-Division League	C Division Qualifiers	Different province leagues (without top divisions)

Women's

Level	Leagues
1	ANFA Women's League
2	ANFA Women's League Qualifiers

Youth

Level	Competition	Age category
Men's National	ANFA U-18 Youth League	Under-18
	ANFA U-16 Youth League	Under-16
Women's National	ANFA Junior Girl's National Football Championship	Under-17

Cup competitions

Major cups

The following tournaments were sanctioned by the All Nepal Football Association for 2019. ^[7]

Tournament	City	District	Province
Shahid Bhim Narayan Gold Cup	Dhankuta	Dhankuta	Koshi Province
Mai Valley Gold Cup	Ilam	Ilam
Jhapa Gold Cup	Birtamod	Jhapa
Damak Gold Cup	Damak
Dhailadubba Gold Cup	Kankai
Mechinagar Gold Cup	Mechinagar
Birat Gold Cup	Biratnagar	Morang
Falgunanda Gold Cup	Phidim	Panchthar
Budha Subba Gold Cup	Dharan	Sunsari
Manmohan Duhabi Gold Cup	Duhabi
Madan Bhandari Invitational Itahari Gold Cup	Itahari
Udayapur Gold Cup	Gaighat	Udayapur
Taplejung Gold Cup	Phungling	Taplejung
Simara Gold Cup	Jitpur Simara	Bara	Madhesh Province
Bishal Memorial Gold Cup	Birgunj	Parsa
Rajashree Janak Gold Cup	Lalbandi	Sarlahi
Bikash Shield Football Tournament	Bharatpur	Chitwan	Bagmati Province
Hetauda Gold Cup	Hetauda	Makawanpur
Kavre Gold Cup	Dhulikhel	Kavrepalanchok
Nuwakot Gold Cup	Bidur	Nuwakot
Sindhu Cup	Lamosangu	Sindhupalchowk
Aaha Rara Gold Cup	Pokhara	Kaski	Gandaki Province
Pokhara Cup
Pokhara International Football Tournament
Nepalgunj Gold Cup	Nepalgunj	Banke	Karnali Province
Tilottama Gold Cup	Butwal	Rupandehi
Suduspaschim Khaptad Gold Cup	Dhangadhi	Kailali	Sudurpashchim Province

Other cups

• ANFA Cup (1980–2009)
• San Miguel Itahari Gold Cup (2007)
• Mahendra Gold Cup (1982–2004)
• Khukuri Gold Cup (1998–2004)
• Birendra Memorial Cup (2002)
• Birthday Cup* (1982–2005)
• Devi Maya Memorial Shield (1953)
• Tribhuvan Challenge Shield** (1948–1986)
• National League Cup (1985–1999)
• Ram Janaki Football Tournament
• KP Oli Cup
• Pokhara Cup

*Founded in 1974 to commemorate the 29th birthday of King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah.

**Founded in 1948 by King Tribhuvan.

References

1. "introduction of Martyrs A-Division Football League" . Retrieved 22 January 2026.
2. "Nepal Super League to be held from April 24" . Retrieved 22 January 2026.
3. "National League this year, A Division League next year" . Retrieved 22 January 2026.
4. "ANFA misses major goals and is shrouded in criticism—but says 'we're doing fine'" . Retrieved 22 January 2026.
5. "Nepalese Football League System" . Retrieved 13 March 2025.
6. "Organized Province League & ANFA President Cup To Be Organized" . Retrieved 22 January 2026.
7. "Action Packed 5-month long Gold Cups; ANFA Sanctions 23 Gold Cups !!". GoalNepal. Retrieved 21 February 2019.