Bhutan national football team#Competitive record

There is uncertainty around how the game was ultimately brought to Bhutan.{{cite web|url=http://www.raonline.ch/pages/bt/sport/bt_sportfootball03a.html|title=A look at football in Bhutan|website=raonline.ch|publisher=RA Online / Kuensel|access-date=30 July 2014|archive-date=10 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810044739/http://www.raonline.ch/pages/bt/sport/bt_sportfootball03a.html|url-status=live}} During the colonial period in Bhutan, although it had signed treaties with the government of India which ceded control of its defence and foreign relations to the British, continued to function as an independent state and was never under the direct rule of the British government in India.{{cite book|last=McKay|first=Alex|editor-last=Mills|editor-first=James H.|date=2005|title=Subaltern Sports: Politics and Sport in South Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3gwJrF7yvDMC|location=London|publisher=Wimbledon Publishing Company|page=201|isbn=1-843311-67-4|access-date=30 July 2014|archive-date=2 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302065309/https://books.google.com/books?id=3gwJrF7yvDMC|url-status=live}} Whereas Indians were introduced to football by the British government, the lack of a permanent British presence in Bhutan meant that foreign sports were not played there. The arrival of football in Bhutan was very closely linked with the opening of schools in Haa and Paro in the 1950s, as foreign teachers, mainly from India but some from Europe, were recruited.{{cite book|last=McKay|first=Alex|editor-last=Mills|editor-first=James H.|date=2005|title=Subaltern Sports: Politics and Sport in South Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3gwJrF7yvDMC|location=London|publisher=Wimbledon Publishing Company|page=202|isbn=1-843311-67-4|access-date=30 July 2014|archive-date=2 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302065309/https://books.google.com/books?id=3gwJrF7yvDMC|url-status=live}} The Bhutan Football Federation note that in the beginning there was little in the way of formal facilities or equipment and the game was played on stone-covered pitches with a ball made from a bundle of clothes. The game continued to grow as more Bhutanese went abroad, mainly to India, to study and helped increase the popularity of the sport upon their return, though the game was still considered to be just that and was not really developed during this period.

The main centers for football during the 1960s were Phuentsholing and Samtse, close to the border with India, where hastily arranged teams would travel back and forth over the border to play neighboring tea gardens. In 1968, a team nominally representing Bhutan, but essentially consisting of foreign players traveled to Calcutta to compete in the Indian Independence Cup. Over time football gradually increased in popularity until it was seen as an essential part of the school curriculum, with numerous school tournaments established within Thimphu. Teams used to travel from all over the country to take part, some coming from as far away as Khaling. However, regardless of the popularity of the game amongst the Bhutanese, the notion of a Bhutan "national team" consisting almost entirely of foreigners persisted for some time, and this team would regularly travel abroad to take part in international competitions such as the ANFA Cup, with a team consisting of around 60% Indian players. These Indian players were brought to Bhutan and given jobs within the Civil Service, although essentially their role was to play football.

In the late 1970s and early 1980, as well as playing several matches in Bhutan, the representative team, known as Druk 11, also played a number of games outside the country in Nepal and India, against representative teams such as the Food Corporation of India.{{cite web |url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/the-black-horse-of-bhutanese-football/ |title=The 'Black Horse' of Bhutanese football |last1=Tshedup |first1=Younten |date=25 April 2015 |website=kuenselonline.com |publisher=Kuensel |access-date=12 February 2016 |archive-date=20 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320064923/http://www.kuenselonline.com/the-black-horse-of-bhutanese-football/ |url-status=live }} At that time, eight out of the eleven members of the team were from India. Such a situation could not last, however, and in time these players either retired or returned to their home country creating a vacuum of talent which would seriously affect the national team in the years to come.

Given that the first international competition had been taking place since 1872,{{cite news| title=The first international football match| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscotland/asportingnation/article/0012/index.shtml| work=bbc.co.uk| author=Paul Mitchell| access-date=23 September 2007| archive-date=18 February 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218113954/https://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/sportscotland/asportingnation/article/0012/index.shtml| url-status=live}} Bhutan's official entry into the international arena was comparatively late, playing their first match only in 1982, a 3–1 loss to Nepal in the 1982 ANFA Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.eloratings.net/Bhutan.htm|title=World Football Elo Ratings: Bhutan|website=eloratings.net|publisher=World Football Elo Ratings and Advanced Satellite Consulting|access-date=29 July 2014|archive-date=24 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424215852/http://www.eloratings.net/Bhutan.htm|url-status=live}} However, other sources also indicate that a team representing Bhutan travelled to Nepal eight years earlier and won a tournament known as the Shripanch Mahendra Gold Cup, though it is not clear the extent to which this was a true international tournament or whether they were competing against club teams.{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/the-sports-scene-in-bhutan-what-is-wrong/#.U99IoPn1AQY|title=The sports scene in Bhutan: what is wrong?|last=Achariya|first=Gopilal|date=16 December 2002|website=kuenselonline.com|publisher=Kuensel|access-date=4 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808053813/http://www.kuenselonline.com/the-sports-scene-in-bhutan-what-is-wrong/#.U99IoPn1AQY|archive-date=8 August 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} They also played a representative team from China's Kunming Army Unit in the competition, also losing 3–1.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/anfa.html|title=ANFA Invitational Tournament (Nepal)|last1=Garin|first1=Erik|last2=Stokkermans|first2=Karel|last3=Lewis|first3=Tom|last4=Morrison|first4=Tom|date=13 January 2011|website=RSSSF|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=23 July 2014|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108052509/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/anfa.html|url-status=live}} Unfortunately, the scorers for Bhutan are not recorded, so it is unknown who scored Bhutan's first international goal. Bhutan's involvement in the ANFA Cup came some seven years before the inauguration of their own league competition. Again however, sources are contradictory with some indicating that a tournament that at least shared the name "A-League" was established in Thimphu sometime around the beginning of the 1980s.

Despite the at best fledgling nature of their domestic competition at that time, Bhutan continued to put out a side, this time in the South Asian Games. They entered the first games in 1984, but lost all three of their games, 2–0 to Bangladesh, 5–0 to hosts and eventual winners Nepal and 1–0 to the Maldives to finish last out of the four competing teams.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/safg84.html|title=1st South Asian Federation Games 1984|last1=Garin|first1=Eric|last2=Morrison|first2=Neil|date=6 November 2009|website=RSSSF|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=23 July 2014|archive-date=30 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730165158/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/safg84.html|url-status=live}} It is unclear whether a play-off for third place was held between Bhutan and the Maldives. If it was, then the result is not known. Either way, the bronze medal was awarded to the Maldives.

Undeterred, Bhutan sent a team to the following year's competition in Bangladesh. Results went the same way as the prior year's tournament. Bhutan were drawn in group B of the competition along with India and Nepal.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/safg85.html|title=2nd South Asian Federation Games 1985 (Dhaka, Bangladesh)|last=Garin|first=Erik|date=3 October 2002|website=RSSSF|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=23 July 2014|archive-date=27 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927143115/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/safg85.html|url-status=live}} They lost their first match narrowly, 1–0 to Nepal and were beaten 3–0 by eventual champions India to ensure that they finished bottom of the group and did not progress.

The national team did not play any fixtures for the next two years as the South Asian Games moved to become a biennial competition, though they again sent a team to the third edition of the games in Kolkata, India.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/safg87.html |title=3rd South Asian Federation Games 1987 (Calcutta, India) |last1=Garin |first1=Erik |last2=King |first2=Ian |date=16 December 2010 |website=RSSSF |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=23 July 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703010034/http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/safg87.html |archive-date=3 July 2014 }} Drawn in group B again, this time with Nepal and Bangladesh, history repeated itself, as Bhutan lost first to Bangladesh 3–0, with Badal Das, Khurshid Alam Babul and Ahmed Ali scoring for Bangladesh, and then 6–2 to Nepal. Whilst their two goals ended a five-year, six-game scoring drought, they were thoroughly outclassed as Ganesh Thapa scored five times for Nepal.

Despite establishing the first recorded football league in Bhutan in 1986,{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/bhutanchamp.html |title=Bhutan – List of Champions |last1=Schöggl |first1=Hans |last2=Abbink |first2=Dinant |date=28 May 2014 |website=RSSSF |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=27 June 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717020149/http://rsssf.com/tablesb/bhutanchamp.html |archive-date=17 July 2014 }} and while the Bhutan Football Federation was admitted as member of the AFC in 1994,{{cite web|url=http://www.raonline.ch/pages/bt/sport/bt_sportfootball03a.html|title=A Look at Football in Bhutan|website=raonline.ch|publisher=RA Online / Kuensel|access-date=29 July 2014|archive-date=10 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810044739/http://www.raonline.ch/pages/bt/sport/bt_sportfootball03a.html|url-status=live}} the national team did not compete in any matches following their defeat to Nepal in the South Asian Games until 1999, missing four editions of the Games, returning only in 1999.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/safg99.html|title=8th South Asian Federation Games 1999 (Kathmandu, Nepal)|last=Gautam|first=Biplav|date=21 April 2002|website=RSSSF|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=23 July 2014|archive-date=27 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927150254/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/safg99.html|url-status=live}}

Their absence from the international arena had not seen an improvement in the standard of their football, even though there had been a national championship established in the country for the previous four seasons. Their first game against hosts Nepal ended in a resounding 7–0 defeat. The team found themselves 3–0 down within the first twenty minutes as Hari Khadka scored in the first and fifth minutes, with Naresh Joshi extending the lead after eighteen. Bhutan were able to keep Nepal at bay for the rest of the half, but conceded two more either side of the hour mark courtesy of Deepak Amatya and Rajan Rayamajhi before a brace from Basanta Thapa sealed an emphatic victory for Nepal. They performed better defensively in their next match, but still lost 3–0 to India, Vijayam Imivalappil scoring all three goals for India. Out of the competition, Bhutan faced a dead-rubber against Pakistan, who were also eliminate prior to the fixture following losses to India and Nepal. With nothing to play for, they produced their best performance of the tournament. Dinesh Chhetri opened the scoring for Bhutan in the twenty-first minute, the first time they had led a game in their history{{Citation needed|date=June 2018}}, only to see a potential victory disappear following two-second-half goals for Pakistan from Haroon Yousaf.

File:Biggest victories in international association football since 1997.png's performance in the 2015 Pacific Games; as of June 2016, the worst performance by any national representative team at an official tournament.}}]]

At the turn of the century, having spent the best part of the last two decades competing only against teams within South Asia, Bhutan made their first foray into international football at a continental level, competing in the qualification rounds for the 2000 AFC Asian Cup. This tournament was to be one of the lowest points in the history of the admittedly hastily assembled national team.{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/editorial-football-maturing/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140806015212/http://www.kuenselonline.com/editorial-football-maturing/|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 August 2014|title=Editorial: Football, maturing|date=3 May 2003|website=kuenselonline.com|publisher=Kuensel Online|access-date=29 July 2014}} An opening 3–0 loss to Nepal was perhaps not surprising, with Bhutan never having gained any form of positive result against their Himalayan neighbours, and at this point in time having scored against them only once in the ANFA Cup back in 1982.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/00asch.html |title=Asian Nations Cup 2000 |last1=Chbaro |first1=Mohamed |last2=Courtney |first2=Barry |last3=Seung Soo |first3=Lee |last4=McKain |first4=Chris |last5=Morrison |first5=Neil |last6=Nikimbaev |first6=Alisher |last7=Niqui |first7=Milad |last8=Schall |first8=Markus |last9=Chen |first9=Ye |last10=Stokkermens |first10=Karel |date=4 March 2011 |website=RSSSF |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=17 July 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401085957/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/00asch.html |archive-date=1 April 2015 }} Four days later they faced Kuwait and were beaten 20–0. Seven of the ten Kuwaiti outfield players got their names on the scoresheet that day, including Bashar Abdullah who scored eight and Jassem Al-Houwaidi who scored five. Bhutan were seriously hampered in this game by their years in the footballing wilderness, but did not help themselves in the match conceding four penalties in total for what were described as "rugby-like challenges" and having two players sent off.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/645185.stm|title=Japan star claims fastest hat-trick|date=16 February 2000|website=news.bbc.co.uk|publisher=BBC|access-date=29 July 2014|archive-date=2 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302065311/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/645185.stm|url-status=live}} This defeat was a world record international defeat, though this most undesirable of records was only held for fourteen months when Australia beat Tonga 22–0.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DPBUdGFd5ToC|title=Football The Ultimate Guide: Updated 2010 Edition|last1=Radnedge|first1=Aidan|last2=Saunders|first2=Catherine|last3=Powley|first3=Adam|last4=Cloake|first4=Martin|last5=Hillsdon|first5=Mark|year=2005|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|isbn=9781843311683|access-date=29 July 2014|archive-date=2 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302065259/https://books.google.com/books?id=DPBUdGFd5ToC|url-status=live}} As of 2016 this remains their worst ever result. Further heavy defeats were to follow, an 8–0 loss to Turkmenistan was followed by an 11–2 defeat to Yemen. Following this qualifying tournament, having been established in 1983, the Bhutan Football Federation was admitted as the 204th member of FIFA.{{cite web|url=http://bhutanfootball.com/Pages.php?PageType=1&Id=8|title=Bhutan Club Directory|website=bhutanfootball.com|publisher=Bhutan Football Federation|access-date=29 July 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714134330/http://bhutanfootball.com/Pages.php?PageType=1&Id=8|archive-date=14 July 2014}}

{{main|The Other Final}}

Their defeats in 2000 in AFC Cup qualifying had left Bhutan ranked as the world's second worst national team with thirteen points in the official FIFA rankings, sandwiched between American Samoa above and Montserrat below.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/rank=93/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026214218/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/rank=93/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 October 2015|title=FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking |date=January 2002|website=fifa.com|publisher=FIFA|access-date=23 July 2014}} At this time, following the Netherlands failure to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, two Dutch ad-agency partners, Johan Kramer and Matthijs de Jongh, not having their home team to cheer on pondered who the worst team in the world might be. With Bhutan and Montserrat so close to each other at the bottom of the FIFA rankings, they set out to arrange a match between the two nations.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2003/film/reviews/the-other-final-1200539764/|title=Review: 'The Other Final'|last=Nesselson|first=Lisa|date=26 August 2003|website=variety.com|publisher=Penske Business Media|access-date=29 July 2014|archive-date=16 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216184526/http://variety.com/2003/film/reviews/the-other-final-1200539764/|url-status=live}} Montserrat, their only pitch having been destroyed by one of the island nation's seven active volcanoes, agreed to the match and travelled to Bhutan for the game, held at Changlimithang a few hours before the actual World Cup Final,{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/bhutan-prepares-to-meet-montserrat/|title=Bhutan prepares to meet Montserrat|last=Wangdi|first=Kencho|date=17 June 2002|website=kuenselonline.com|publisher=Kuensel Online|access-date=29 July 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140806015211/http://www.kuenselonline.com/bhutan-prepares-to-meet-montserrat/|archive-date=6 August 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} a match authorised by FIFA.{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/anxious-wait-for-the-other-final-over/|title=Anxious wait for the "other final" over|last=Wangdi|first=Kencho|date=27 June 2002|website=kuenselonline.com|publisher=Kuensel Online|access-date=29 July 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140806015212/http://www.kuenselonline.com/anxious-wait-for-the-other-final-over/|archive-date=6 August 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} The game started strongly for Montserrat and Bhutan struggled to contain them during early exchanges.{{cite web|url=http://www.raonline.ch/pages/bt/sport/bt_sportfootball03b.html|title=World Cup 2002: The other final – Bhutan met Montserrat|last=Wangdi|first=Kencho|date=28 June 2002|website=raonline.ch|publisher=RA Online / Kuensel|access-date=23 July 2014|archive-date=23 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323010856/http://www.raonline.ch/pages/bt/sport/bt_sportfootball03b.html|url-status=live}} However, initial nerves were settled after five minutes when Wangay Dorji headed a goal to give Bhutan the lead. This gave them the momentum to press on, but their finishing was lax and they were unable to convert the chances they created. Montserrat were able to keep Bhutan at bay for the rest of the half and the game remained at 1–0 until well past the hour mark when English referee Steve Bennett awarded Bhutan a freekick. Dorji stepped up and scored his second of the game. The momentum remained with Bhutan and veteran striker Dinesh Chhetri scored a third before Dorji took full advantage of a tiring Montserratian team to complete his hat-trick and seal a 4–0 victory, Bhutan's first victory on the international stage against any opposition, indeed their first-ever result of any kind and the first time they had ever kept a clean sheet.

However, despite this memorable victory, Bhutan was unable to carry this form forward into competitive matches. Although the Bhutan Football Federation now received substantial payments as a member of FIFA, there was still very little money in the game for players, even those who played for the national team.{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/football-in-bhutan-what-next/|title=Football in Bhutan: what next?|last=Wangdi|first=Kencho|date=5 July 2002|website=kenselonline|publisher=Kuensel Online|access-date=29 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212185428/http://www.kuenselonline.com/football-in-bhutan-what-next/|archive-date=12 February 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} Players who were unemployed outside football had to exist on a stipend from the Federation of only Nu 3–5,500 per month and there were no internationally certified coaches in the country at all, only amateurs and school teachers. It is no surprise then that Bhutan was defeated in all three games in the 2003 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup, losing 6–0 to the Maldives, 2–0 to Nepal and 3–0 to hosts Bangladesh, returning home bottom of their group without scoring a single goal.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold02.html|title=South Asian Gold Cup 2003 (Dhaka, Bangladesh)|last1=Chaudhuri|first1=Arunava|last2=Courtney|first2=Barrie|last3=Hai Naveed|first3=Malik Riaz|date=2 October 2005|website=RSSSF|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=23 July 2014|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161602/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold02.html|url-status=live}} They took advantage though in their next set of matches as they hosted Group F of the preliminary qualifying round for the 2004 AFC Asian Cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/04asch.html |title=Asian Nations Cup 2004 |last1=Berkurt |first1=Sturmius |last2=Cowlam |first2=Glenn |last3=Diaz Rubio |first3=Julio |last4=Hashim |first4=Refel |last5=Seugsoo |first5=Lee |last6=Hai Naveed |first6=Malik Riaz |last7=Saaid |first7=Hamdan |date=2 October 2005 |website=RSSSF |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |access-date=27 June 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613125728/http://www.rsssf.com/tables/04asch.html |archive-date=13 June 2014 }} Drawn with Guam and Mongolia, two teams ranked much closer to them than the majority of their previous opposition, they began their campaign with a 6–0 victory over Guam (a result that as of 2016 is still their record victory) and followed it up with a 0–0 draw against Mongolia to top their group and progress to the qualifying round proper. The victory over Guam was their biggest ever margin of victory to date and the two games undefeated in this group represents Bhutan's best run of form to date as of 2014. In the next stage though they were drawn against much stronger opposition in the shape of Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Yemen. Faced with this increase in quality, Bhutan were outclassed in all six of their qualifying games, losing all of them and again failing to score a single goal in the process.

Their losing run continued into the 2005 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup, where yet again they were to return home winless, losing 3–0 to Bangladesh and India respectively and 3–1 to Nepal, Bikash Pradhan scoring their only goal of the tournament, a consolation goal with Nepal already 3–0 up in what was a dead rubber for both sides.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold05.html|title=South Asian Gold Cup 2005 (Karachi, Pakistan)|last1=Zlotkowski|first1=Andre|last2=Hai Naveed|first2=Malik Riaz|date=6 March 2008|website=RSSSF|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=23 July 2014|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726161611/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold05.html|url-status=live}}

From 2006 to 2009 saw something of an improvement in results for Bhutan. Entering the inaugural AFC Challenge Cup, they suffered narrow defeats to Nepal, 2–0 and Sri Lanka 1–0, before holding Brunei to a 0–0 draw.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/afc-emerging06.html|title=AFC Challenge Cup 2006 (Bangladesh)|last=Hai Naveed|first=Malik Riaz|date=3 April 2009|website=RSSSF|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=23 July 2014|archive-date=23 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923101039/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/afc-emerging06.html|url-status=live}} Although they failed to score and did not progress to the main competition, the draw against Brunei was their first positive result of any kind for nearly three years following a similar 0–0 draw with Mongolia and ended an eleven match losing streak. They did not play any international matches for the next two years, appearing again on the continental stage in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/afc-emerging08.html|title=AFC Challenge Cup 2008|last=King|first=Ian|date=3 April 2009|website=RSSSF|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=29 July 2014|archive-date=23 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923024508/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/afc-emerging08.html|url-status=live}} Their performance was similar to the previous Challenge Cup, opening with a 3–1 loss to Tajikistan, Passang Tshering scoring for Bhutan after sixty-nine minutes, only for the Tajiks to seal the victory from the penalty spot in the dying minutes through Numonjon Hakimov. Bhutan achieved a better result in the next game, drawing 1–1 with Brunei. Nawang Dendhup gave Bhutan the initial advantage, a lead which they held until the seventy-sixth minute when Khayrun Bin Salleh equalized. Although a 3–0 loss to the Philippines in their final group game confirmed that again Bhutan would not be progressing to the competition proper. However, the two goals they scored and the draw achieved, meant that they finished in third place in the group above Brunei.

Bhutan built on the positive results they had gained from the previous two tournaments when they took part in the 2008 SAFF Championship. A late Nima Sangay goal was sufficient to give them a share of the points in their opening game against Bangladesh.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold08.html|title=South Asian Gold Cup 2008 (Colombo and Malé)|last=Hai Naveed|first=Malik Riaz|date=11 December 2009|website=RSSSF|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=23 July 2014|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108052137/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold08.html|url-status=live}} They could not repeat the performance against the hosts Sri Lanka in their next game, losing 2–0, but recovered in their final game to record a 3–1 victory over Afghanistan, Yeshey Gyeltshen scoring twice and his namesake Yeshey Dorji getting the third before H.A. Habib scored a consolation for the Afghans. Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh in the other final group game to ensure that Bhutan finished as runners-up in the group and qualified for the knock-out rounds of a tournament for the first time in their history. They met India in the semi-finals and took the lead through Kinley Dorji after eighteen minutes. It was a lead they would hold for less than fifteen minutes though as Sunil Chhetri equalized before halftime. With no further goals in the second half, the game went to extra time only for Bhutan to see the possibility of victory snatched from them at the very last moment as Gouramangi Singh scored in added time at the end of extra time to claim the narrowest of victories for India. Nonetheless, the semi-final appearance is Bhutan's best performance in any tournament as of 2016.

Unfortunately, they were again not able to build on these positive performances. Their loss to India was the start of the longest losing streak in their history, which was ultimately to last for nineteen games. The 2010 AFC Challenge Cup qualifying competition began with a narrow 1–0 loss to the Philippines,{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/afc-emerging2010.html|title=AFC Challenge Cup 2010|last=King|first=Ian|date=12 December 2013|website=RSSSF|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=23 July 2014|archive-date=4 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904072324/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/afc-emerging2010.html|url-status=live}} but quickly worsened as Bhutan lost 7–0 to Turkmenistan and 5–0 to the Maldives to return home yet again without a point or scoring.

A Passang Tshering goal was of little consolation as a 2–1 friendly loss to Nepal failed to end the streak, before a similarly poor 2009 SAFF Championship saw them lose 4–1 to Bangladesh, 6–0 to Sri Lanka and 7–0 to Pakistan, a Nawang Dendhup penalty against Bangladesh being their only reward in all three games.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold09.html|title=South Asian Gold Cup 2009 (Dhaka)|last1=Priadko|first1=Aleks|last2=Hai Naveed|first2=Malik Riaz|date=2 May 2013|website=RSSSF|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=23 July 2014|archive-date=9 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209173528/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold09.html|url-status=live}}File:SAFF Championship 2013 (11).JPG at the 2013 SAFF Championship|273x273px]]

Bhutan withdrew from the international stage for the next two years, re-emerging to play two back to back friendly matches against Nepal in preparation for the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup. Both of these games resulted in narrow losses, 1–0 and 2–1. Their 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification was essentially over before it started. Rather than being drawn in a group for initial qualification, the process was changed so that the lowest-ranked eight teams entering the competition played-off over two legs on a home-and-away basis.{{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/Documents/common/cms/afc/clcq012regulations.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911114613/http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/Documents/common/cms/afc/clcq012regulations.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 September 2018 |title=AFC Challenge Cup 2012 (Qualifiers) Competition Regulations |work=the-afc.com |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |access-date=29 July 2014 }} Bhutan perhaps suffered from the fact that neither leg was played in Bhutan, with both matches taking place at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Gurgaon, India,{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joomleague/?view=report&compID=408&matchId=3401|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708191551/http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joomleague/?view=report&compID=408&matchId=3401|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 July 2018|title=Bhutan vs Afghanistan – 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification|website=the-afc.com|publisher=Asian Football Confederation|access-date=23 July 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joomleague/?view=report&compID=408&matchId=3397|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911151823/http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/joomleague/?view=report&compID=408&matchId=3397|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 September 2018|title=Afghanistan vs Bhutan – 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification|website=the-afc.com|publisher=Asian Football Confederation|access-date=23 July 2014}} but nonetheless, a hat-trick from Sidiq Walizada in the first leg to give Afghanistan a 3–0 lead,{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/afc-emerging2012.html|title=AFC Challenge Cup 2012|last=Di Maggio|first=Roberto|date=12 December 2013|website=RSSSF|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=23 July 2014|archive-date=15 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815135445/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/afc-emerging2012.html|url-status=live}} made the second leg, which Afghanistan won 2–0, essentially irrelevant. A disappointing year was compounded with three successive defeats in the 2011 SAFF Championship, Bhutan losing 3–0 to Sri Lanka, 5–0 to India and finally 8–1 to Afghanistan, Chencho Gyeltshen's consolation being the only positive from the year's competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold2011.html|title=South Asian Gold Cup 2011 (New Delhi)|last=Courtney|first=Barrie|date=19 September 2013|website=RSSSF|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=23 July 2014|archive-date=9 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209173329/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold2011.html|url-status=live}}

The team played only one match in 2012, a 5–0 lost friendly to Thailand,{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/match/97545/thailand-vs-bhutan/lineup-stats|title=Thailand vs Bhutan – Lineup|date=14 November 2012|website=goal.com|publisher=Goal.com|access-date=29 July 2014|archive-date=18 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118042424/http://www.goal.com/en/match/97545/thailand-vs-bhutan/lineup-stats|url-status=dead}} prior to the 2013 SAFF Championship. This tournament produced an almost identical result to the previous SAFF championship; Bhutan opened the competition losing 3–0 to Afghanistan, then 8–2 to the Maldives despite being 2–1 up at one point and level going into halftime,{{cite web|title=South Asian Championship 2013 (Kathmandu)|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold2013.html|last=Stokkermans|first=Karel|date=19 September 2013|website=RSSSF|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=23 July 2014|archive-date=8 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108050351/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/saffgold2013.html|url-status=live}} before rounding off another miserable year with a 5–2 loss to Sri Lanka. One of the main reasons suggested for Bhutan's significant drop in form was the amount of money available to players, even those who played for the national team. Yeshey Dorji, one of the country's leading players, announced his retirement following the 2013 SAFF Championships, citing an inability to generate a sufficient living from football as the main reason.{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/it-doesnt-pay-to-play-for-the-national-squad/#.U8jpYvn1CFY|title=It doesn't pay to play for the national squad|last=Penjore|first=Ugyen|date=11 October 2013|website=kuenselonline.com|publisher=Kuensel Online|access-date=29 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812054913/http://www.kuenselonline.com/it-doesnt-pay-to-play-for-the-national-squad/#.U8jpYvn1CFY|archive-date=12 August 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} In 2014, the Bhutan Football Federation withdrew the Nu 4,000 monthly payment to players in the national team, and whilst money is spent at grassroots, more needs to be spent on the national team as former national head coach Kazunori Ohara noted, once players get to the end of school age they often drop out of football completely.

In 2015, Bhutan made their first ever attempt to qualify for the FIFA World Cup entering the qualifiers for the 2018 edition. In preparation for their qualifying campaign, and in an attempt to improve the overall standard of football in the country and attract more players, the Bhutan Football Federation offered a monthly salary of Ng 10,000 to all players in the main national squad who are not currently on federation scholarships.{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/18-man-national-squad-selected/|title=18-man national squad selected|last=Tshedup|first=Younten|date=31 January 2015|website=kuenselonline.com|publisher=Kuensel Online|access-date=16 March 2015|archive-date=16 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416193232/http://www.kuenselonline.com/18-man-national-squad-selected/|url-status=live}}

In their first ever qualifying match, they faced Sri Lanka in the two-legged preliminary round.{{cite news|title="World's worst" Bhutan enjoys dream World Cup debut|url=http://www.arabnews.com/sports/news/717311|access-date=13 March 2015|agency=Agence France Presse|newspaper=Arab News|date=13 March 2015|archive-date=13 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313033619/http://www.arabnews.com/sports/news/717311|url-status=live}} In the first leg in Colombo, Bhutan produced a shock result, beating their hosts 1–0, with Tshering Dorji scoring the winner in the eighty-fourth minute.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/12/bhutan-win-world-cup-qualifier-2018 |title=World's worst team Bhutan kick off 2018 World Cup qualifying with victory |author= |date=12 March 2015 |website=guardian.co.uk |publisher=Guardian Media Group |access-date=10 February 2016 |archive-date=14 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914125047/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/mar/12/bhutan-win-world-cup-qualifier-2018 |url-status=live }} This result even drew praise from now-disgraced FIFA president Sepp Blatter who described the result as "a wonderful, historic moment" on Twitter, though Sri Lanka coach Nikola Kavazovic, whilst conceding Bhutan were the better team remained confident that his team would ultimately be victorious. The result was met very positively in Bhutan, with the team featuring heavily in the news.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/16/bhutan-make-history-sri-lanka-world-cup-qualifiers |title="World's worst team" Bhutan aim to make history against Sri Lanka |last1=Ames |first1=Nick |date=16 March 2015 |website=guardian.co.uk |publisher=Guardian Media Group |access-date=10 February 2016 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214942/http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/16/bhutan-make-history-sri-lanka-world-cup-qualifiers |url-status=live }} Anticipation ahead of the second leg at Changlimithang ran high, a half-day holiday was declared by the government for students and public sector employees and the gates to the ground were opened four hours prior to kick off.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/19/bhutan-football-world-cup-sri-lanka-russia-2018 |title=Bhutan, Bhutan – football chanted like a prayer as World Cup success grips nation |last1=Zam |first1=Namgay |date=19 March 2015 |website=guardian.co.uk |publisher=Guardian Media Group |access-date=10 February 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304141500/http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/19/bhutan-football-world-cup-sri-lanka-russia-2018 |url-status=live }} The game started positively for Bhutan as Chencho Gyeltshen, the country's only professional footballer, scored in the sixth minute. However, Sri Lanka equalised before half time through Subash Madushan.{{cite web|title=Match Report: Bhutan v Sri Lanka – AFC first round|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275167/match=300311254/report.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909002735/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275167/match=300311254/report.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 September 2015|author=|date=17 March 2015|website=fifa.com|publisher=FIFA|access-date=10 February 2016}} A disallowed goal for each side increased the tension as the game progressed but in injury time at the end of the second half Gyeltshen scored his second goal of the match to seal a 3–1 aggregate victory, ensuring they advanced to round 2 in the AFC qualifying section whilst Sri Lanka were eliminated. In qualifying for the second phase of the competition, Bhutan were guaranteed at least a place in the play-off round for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2015/m=4/news=world-cup-draw-looms-large-in-asia-2590022.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416192221/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2015/m=4/news=world-cup-draw-looms-large-in-asia-2590022.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 April 2015|title=World Cup draw looms large in Asia|publisher=FIFA.com|date=13 April 2015|quote=Completing the tournament's qualifying contenders will be the next 16 highest ranked teams, with the remaining 12 sides battling it out in play-off matches to claim the last eight spots.}}

For the next stage, Bhutan were drawn in Group C, along with China, Qatar, Hong Kong, and the Maldives, all sides ranked higher than Sri Lanka in the FIFA rankings. Against these much stronger teams, their results were not as successful. In their first game, they lost 7–0 against Hong Kong in the Mong Kok Stadium,{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317431/index.html#nosticky |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614003653/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317431/index.html#nosticky |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 June 2015 |title=Hong Kong v Bhutan – AFC second round: Group C |author= |date=11 June 2015 |website=fifa.com |publisher=FIFA |access-date=10 February 2016}} and then 6–0 less than a week later against China at Changlimithang, the first time despite their lowly ranking that Bhutan had been beaten at home in an official international match.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317410/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617005233/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317410/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 June 2015 |title=Bhutan v China – AFC second round: Group C |author= |date=16 June 2015 |website=fifa.com |publisher=FIFA |access-date=10 February 2016}} Results got worse still in the following match as they lost 15–0 to Qatar, their heaviest defeat since their then world record 20–0 loss to Kuwait in 2000.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317432/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622222950/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317432/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 June 2015 |title=Qatar v Bhutan – AFC second round: Group C|author= |date=3 September 2015 |website=fifa.com |publisher=FIFA |access-date=10 February 2016}} The next two matches saw an improvement in their fortunes. Though both were lost, the scorelines were much more narrow. Firstly a 4–3 home defeat to the Maldives, in which Bhutan showed a spirited display to come back from 4–0 down in the final five minutes.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317421/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623162309/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317421/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 June 2015 |title=Bhutan v Maldives – AFC second round: Group C|author= |date=8 October 2015 |website=fifa.com |publisher=FIFA |access-date=10 February 2016}} At half time in the match, following a disagreement with team manager Hishey Tshering, coach Norio Tsukitate was sacked, his rigid methodology having created significant friction between himself and the overall team management.{{cite web |url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/football-still-dominates-sporting-realm/ |title=Football still dominates sporting realm |last1=Younten |first1=Tshedup |date=9 February 2016 |website=kuenselonline.com |publisher=Kuensel |access-date=14 April 2016 |archive-date=25 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425170024/http://www.kuenselonline.com/football-still-dominates-sporting-realm/ |url-status=live }} Secondly a 1–0 home loss to Hong Kong, the winning goal coming in the penultimate minute of the match for the visitors.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317407/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622223626/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317407/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 June 2015 |title=Bhutan v Hong Kong – AFC second round: Group C|author= |date=13 October 2015 |website=fifa.com |publisher=FIFA |access-date=10 February 2016}} This was a result that pleased the Bhutan Football Federation so much that they awarded all of the players involved in the match a Nu 25,000 bonus to reflect their "brilliant performance".{{cite web |url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/bhutanese-coach-to-lead-the-national-team-in-china/ |title=Bhutanese coach to lead the national team in China |last1=Tshedup |first1=Younten |website=kuenselonline.com |publisher=Kuensel |access-date=10 February 2016 |archive-date=3 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103094917/https://kuenselonline.com/bhutanese-coach-to-lead-the-national-team-in-china/ |url-status=live }} However the improvement in their performances was not to last and a visit to China resulted in a 12–0 loss,{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317411/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623164306/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317411/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 June 2015 |title=China v Bhutan – AFC second round: Group C|author= |date=17 November 2015 |website=fifa.com |publisher=FIFA |access-date=10 February 2016}} and a home match against Qatar another loss, this time 3–0.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317413/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622210051/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317413/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 June 2015 |title=Bhutan v Qatar – AFC second round: Group C|author= |date=17 November 2015 |website=fifa.com |publisher=FIFA |access-date=10 February 2016}}

Following their World Cup qualifying attempt, Bhutan entered the eleventh SAFF Championship, held in India between 23 December 2015 and 3 January 2016.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}} Originally scheduled to take place in July 2015, the monsoon season and schedule congestion led to the tournament being postponed to late December.{{citation needed|date=March 2025}} Their performance was identical to their efforts in the last four tournaments as the team lost all three group games beginning with a 3–1 defeat to the Maldives, Tshering Dorji scoring for Bhutan after 20 minutes,{{cite web |url=http://www.saffsuzukicup.com/news/match-report-maldives-3-1-bhutan |title=Maldives 3–1 Bhutan |author= |date=24 December 2016 |website=saffsuzukicup.com |publisher=South Asian Football Federation |access-date=15 April 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062956/http://www.saffsuzukicup.com/news/match-report-maldives-3-1-bhutan |url-status=live }} and followed by two 3–0 losses to Afghanistan{{cite web |url=http://www.saffsuzukicup.com/news/report-bhutan-0-3-afghanistan |title=Bhutan 0–3 Afghanistan |author= |date=26 December 2016 |website=saffsuzukicup.com |publisher=South Asian Football Federation |access-date=15 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002559/http://www.saffsuzukicup.com/news/report-bhutan-0-3-afghanistan |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} and Bangladesh{{cite web |url=http://www.saffsuzukicup.com/news/match-report-bhutan-0-3-bangladesh |title=Bhutan 0–3 Bangladesh |author= |date=26 December 2016 |website=saffsuzukicup.com |publisher=South Asian Football Federation |access-date=15 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063015/http://www.saffsuzukicup.com/news/match-report-bhutan-0-3-bangladesh |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} to be eliminated from the competition.

Prior to their last qualifying match, the national team visited Thailand where they played two back to back charity friendly matches against reigning Thai League T1 champions Buriram United. Although they were playing against a club side rather than a fellow national team, Bhutan were soundly beaten in both matches; firstly 6–0{{cite web |url=http://footballchannel.asia/2016/03/24/post10158/ |title=Weslley Scores as Buriram Beat Bhutan 6–0 in Friendly |author= |date=24 March 2016 |website=footballchannel.asia |publisher=Kanzen Ltd |access-date=31 March 2016 |archive-date=26 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326030312/http://footballchannel.asia/2016/03/24/post10158/ |url-status=live }} and then 9–0 in a rematch the following day,{{cite web |url=http://footballchannel.asia/2016/03/24/post10158/ |title=Weslley Scored a Hat-Trick, Buriram Wins 9–0 Against Bhutan |author= |date=24 March 2016 |website=footballchannel.asia |publisher=Kanzen Ltd |access-date=31 March 2016 |archive-date=26 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326030312/http://footballchannel.asia/2016/03/24/post10158/ |url-status=live }} with Buriram's new signing Weslley scoring five times across the two matches.

A final 4–2 defeat against the Maldives in Malé confirmed Bhutan's last place finish in their group with a −47 goal difference and extending their losing run in official competition to twelve games.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317420/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623162304/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317420/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 June 2015 |title=Maldives v Bhutan – AFC second round: Group C|author= |date=29 March 2016 |website=fifa.com |publisher=FIFA |access-date=30 March 2016}}

Bar the initial victories over Sri Lanka, one of the few positives to be taken from their inaugural World Cup qualifying campaign was that their presence in the second round guaranteed their qualification for the qualifying playoff round of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.{{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/standing-committee/afc-competitions-committee-meeting |title=AFC Competitions Committee Meeting |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |date=28 November 2014 |access-date=30 March 2016 |archive-date=7 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207141432/http://www.the-afc.com/standing-committee/afc-competitions-committee-meeting |url-status=live }} Two rounds of play-off matches were played to determine the final eight qualifiers for the third round.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/afc/files/afc_competitions_calendar_2016_2018.pdf|publisher=AFC|title=AFC Calendar of Competitions 2016 – 2018|access-date=30 March 2016|archive-date=28 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728080217/http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/afc/files/afc_competitions_calendar_2016_2018.pdf|url-status=live}} The draw was made on 7 April 2016, at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/asian-cup-2019/afc-confirms-raft-of-crucial-draw-dates|publisher=AFC|title=AFC confirms raft of crucial draw dates|date=17 March 2016|access-date=30 March 2016|archive-date=4 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904180714/http://www.the-afc.com/asian-cup-2019/afc-confirms-raft-of-crucial-draw-dates|url-status=live}} The first round of matches were played between 2 and 7 June 2016 and the second round of matches between 6 September and 11 October 2016. As the lowest ranked of all the teams taking part in the play-off round, Bhutan entered in round two, where they were drawn against Bangladesh.{{Cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/asian-cup-2019/stage-set-for-uae-2019-qualifiers-play-off-draw|title=Stage set for UAE 2019 Qualifiers Play-off draw {{!}} AFC|website=www.the-afc.com|access-date=2016-04-05|archive-date=3 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203082720/http://www.the-afc.com/asian-cup-2019/stage-set-for-uae-2019-qualifiers-play-off-draw|url-status=live}} The first match was played on 6 September, with the second leg played on 11 October 2016. Bhutan drew the first leg 0–0,{{cite web|title=Bangladesh v Bhutan – 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification – Play-off Round|url=http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=10186&stageid=403&tMode=H&view=ajax&show=matchsummary|website=the-afc.com|publisher=Asian Football Confederation|access-date=8 September 2016|archive-date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917053807/http://the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=10186&stageid=403&tMode=H&view=ajax&show=matchsummary|url-status=live}} breaking a twelve match losing streak in official matches and a fifteen match losing streak in total. Bhutan ended up winning the second match 3–1,{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/asian-cup-2019/bhutan-advance-to-afc-asian-cup-2019-final-qualifying-round|title=Bhutan advance to AFC Asian Cup 2019 Final Qualifying Round|website=www.the-afc.com|access-date=2016-10-25|archive-date=23 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923170001/http://www.the-afc.com/asian-cup-2019/bhutan-advance-to-afc-asian-cup-2019-final-qualifying-round|url-status=live}} giving them a 3–1 advantage on aggregate and enabling them to advance to round three of the Asian Cup qualification. Bhutan were drawn on 23 January 2017 with Maldives, Palestine and Oman;{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/asian-cup-2019/draw-for-final-round-of-afc-asian-cup-uae-2019-qualifiers-concluded|title=Draw for final round of AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 qualifiers concluded|publisher=AFC|date=23 January 2017|access-date=2 December 2017|archive-date=11 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211043030/http://www.the-afc.com/asian-cup-2019/draw-for-final-round-of-afc-asian-cup-uae-2019-qualifiers-concluded|url-status=live}} the draw was moved from 18 January.{{cite web |url=http://fft.tj/kubok-azii-2019-sbornaya-tadzhikistana-uznaet-svoih-sopernikov-po-otboru-18-yanvarya/ |title=Кубок Азии-2019: сборная Таджикистана узнает своих соперников по отбору 18 января |publisher=Tajikistan Football Federation |language=ru |date=20 October 2016 |access-date=21 October 2016 |trans-title=Asian Cup 2019: Tajikistan team learns its opponents in the draw of 18 January |archive-date=8 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108161418/http://fft.tj/kubok-azii-2019-sbornaya-tadzhikistana-uznaet-svoih-sopernikov-po-otboru-18-yanvarya/ |url-status=live }} The Bhutanese were eliminated from contention after four straight losses, especially a 10–0 away loss to Palestine.{{cite web|title=AFC ASIAN CUP 2019 QUALIFIERS – GROUP D: PALESTINE 10–0 BHUTAN|url=http://www.the-afc.com/asian-cup-2019/qualifiers-group-d-md4-palestine-v-bhutan|publisher=AFC|date=10 October 2017|access-date=2 December 2017|archive-date=3 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203082733/http://www.the-afc.com/asian-cup-2019/qualifiers-group-d-md4-palestine-v-bhutan|url-status=live}}

Bhutan were eliminated when they lost 5–1 on aggregate to Guam. They won the first match at home 1–0 but lost the return leg 5–0.{{Cite web|title=Asian Qualifiers: Bhutan 1-0 Guam {{!}} Football News {{!}} FIFA World Cup 2022|url=https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/fifa-world-cup/latest/news/asian-qualifiers-bhutan-1-0-guam|website=the-AFC|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-12|archive-date=28 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028100613/https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/fifa-world-cup/latest/news/asian-qualifiers-bhutan-1-0-guam|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=2nd Leg: Guam 5-0 Bhutan|url=https://footballghana.com/2nd-leg-guam-5-0-bhutan|website=Footballghana|language=en|access-date=2020-05-12|archive-date=29 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029203918/https://footballghana.com/2nd-leg-guam-5-0-bhutan|url-status=live}}

File:Flag of Bhutan.svg

Bhutan's current home colours are orange shirts with yellow trim and a yellow dragon motif, orange shorts and orange socks. Their away colours is predominantly white with orange trim on the shirt and shorts and an orange dragon motif. Both their home and away colours are so closely aligned to the national colours and pattern of the Flag of Bhutan that they essentially mirror it. The current manufacturer of the national colours is Nivia.

There are three main themes contained within Bhutan's home colours, all of which have wider symbolism within the nation as outlined in the Constitution of Bhutan. Firstly, the use of orange signifies Buddhist spiritual tradition, particularly the Drukpa Kagyu and Nyingma schools.{{cite book |url=http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20(A5).pdf |title=The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan |chapter=First Schedule – The National Flag and the National Emblem of Bhutan |date=18 July 2008 |publisher=constitution.bt |access-date=12 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706162637/http://www.constitution.bt/TsaThrim%20Eng%20%28A5%29.pdf |archive-date=6 July 2011 }} Secondly, the use of yellow in the trim and also as the colour of the dragon motif signifies civil tradition and temporal authority as embodied in the Druk Gyalpo, the Dragon King of Bhutan, whose royal garb traditionally includes a yellow kabney (scarf). Finally, the dragon motif employed is the Druk ({{langx|dz|འབྲུག་}}) the "Thunder Dragon" of Bhutanese mythology and a Bhutanese national symbol,{{cite book |last1=Worden |first1=Robert L. |editor1-last=Savada |editor1-first=Andrea Matles |title=Nepal and Bhutan: Country Studies |chapter=Bhutan: Origins and Early Settlement, A.D. 600–1600 |edition=3rd |year=1991 |publisher=Federal Research Division, United States Library of Congress |isbn=0-8444-0777-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/nepalbhutancount00sava |access-date=2010-10-06 |url-access=registration }} though the dragon depicted in the team's colours does not hold the jewels representing wealth that are found on the national flag, though the similar snarling mouth of the dragon symbolizes the Bhutanese deities' commitment to the defense of Bhutan.{{cite web |url=http://www.constitution.bt/html/constitution/articles/article_1st.htm |title=First Schedule – The National Flag and the National Emblem of Bhutan |access-date=12 February 2016 |work=Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706163643/http://www.constitution.bt/html/constitution/articles/article_1st.htm |archive-date=6 July 2011 }}

The orange theme and that of the dragon motif noted above are carried over into the away colours. Additionally, the predominant white theme mirrors the colour of the dragon on the national flag which signifies the purity of inner thoughts and deeds that unite all the ethnically and linguistically diverse peoples of Bhutan.

{{cite web |url=http://www.oag.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/National_Flag_Rules_1972.pdf |title=The National Flag Rules of Bhutan (1972) |access-date=12 February 2016 |year=1972 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424024939/http://oag.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/National_Flag_Rules_1972.pdf |archive-date=24 April 2012 }}

Home

Away

The logo of the national team is identical to that used for its governing body, the Bhutan Football Federation. It consists of a football surrounded by two concentric circles, one yellow, one orange, representing the Dragon King of Bhutan and the Buddhist tradition in the country, overlaid on a Himalayan blue poppy (Meconopsis horridula), the national flower of Bhutan.{{cite web |url=http://www.tourism.gov.bt/about-bhutan/national-flower |title=National Flower |author= |website=tourism.gov.bt |publisher=Tourism Council of Bhutan |access-date=12 February 2016 |archive-date=19 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019075602/http://www.tourism.gov.bt/about-bhutan/national-flower |url-status=dead }} Below this is a wish-fulfilling jewel, similar to that located at the top of the official Emblem of Bhutan.

{{main|Changlimithang Stadium}}

File:Changlimethang Stadium Thimphu 080907.jpg]]

Changlimithang Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan, which serves as the National Stadium. The stadium can holds a capacity of 15,000. It is predominantly used for football matches and is the home of both the Bhutan national football team and a number of Thimphu-based football clubs who play in both the A-Division and the National League. In addition to football, the stadium also regularly plays host to major archery tournaments, the national sport of Bhutan.{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/k2-changlimithang-ground/#.U9ji0_n1CFY|title=K2: Changlimithang ground|date=9 June 2008|website=kuenselonline.com|publisher=Kuensel Online|access-date=30 July 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808051243/http://www.kuenselonline.com/k2-changlimithang-ground/#.U9ji0_n1CFY|archive-date=8 August 2014}} The stadium was initially constructed in 1974 for the coronation of the fourth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, but was completely refurbished in 2007 in advance of the coronation of the fifth Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.{{cite web|url=http://www.raonline.ch/pages/bt/sport/bt_stadium01.html|title=Thimphu: A face-lift for Changlimithang|last=Dorji|first=Kinley|date=2006|website=raonline.com|publisher=RA Online / Kuensel|access-date=30 July 2014|archive-date=16 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316034040/http://www.raonline.ch/pages/bt/sport/bt_stadium01.html|url-status=live}} Floodlighting was added to the football pitch in 2009{{cite web|url=http://www.drukgreen.bt/index.php/about-us/corporate-social-responsibilties/279-floodlighting|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808050756/http://www.drukgreen.bt/index.php/about-us/corporate-social-responsibilties/279-floodlighting|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 August 2014|title=Floodlighting at Changlimithang|website=drukgreen.bt|publisher=Druk Green|access-date=30 July 2014}} and an artificial pitch was laid in 2012 to coincide with the start of the first season of the National League.{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/to-open-artificial-turf/#.U9ji7vn1CFY|title=To open artificial turf|last=Phuntsho|first=Tashi|date=13 December 2013|website=kuenselonline.com|publisher=Kuensel Online|access-date=30 July 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402162909/http://www.kuenselonline.com/to-open-artificial-turf/#.U9ji7vn1CFY|archive-date=2 April 2015}} Unusually for a national stadium, and as a result of the conversion of the playing surface to artificial turf, the football field at Changlimithang is available for public hire and is extremely popular with people in Thimphu.{{cite web|url=http://www.kuenselonline.com/new-enthusiasm-for-an-old-sport/#.U9jlHvn1CFY|title=New enthusiasm for an old sport|last=Norbu|first=Passang|date=12 April 2013|website=kuenselonline.com|publisher=Kuensel Online|access-date=30 July 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808051250/http://www.kuenselonline.com/new-enthusiasm-for-an-old-sport/#.U9jlHvn1CFY|archive-date=8 August 2014}}

{{Main|Bhutan national football team results}}

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

{{legend2|#CCFFCC|Win|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFFFCC|Draw|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFCCCC|Loss|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|#FFFFFF|Fixture|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Friendly

| date = 5 September

| time = {{UTZ|18:00|6}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|BHU}}

| score = 0–1

| team2 = {{fb|BAN}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 = Morsalin {{goal|5}}

| stadium = Changlimithang Stadium

| location = Thimphu, Bhutan

| attendance =

| referee = Prajwol Chhetri (Nepal)

| report = https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/39345/Bhutan_Bangladesh.html

| result = L

}}

{{Football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = Friendly

| date = 8 September

| time = {{UTZ|18:00|6}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|BHU}}

| score = 1–0

| team2 = {{fb|BAN}}

| goals1 = Wangchuk {{goal|90+1}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Changlimithang Stadium

| location = Thimphu, Bhutan

| attendance =

| referee = Prajwol Chhetri (Nepal)

| report = https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/39434/Bhutan_Bangladesh.html

| result = W

}}

{{football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification

| date = 25 March

| time = {{UTZ|18:00|6}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|BHU}}

| score = 0–0

| team2 = {{fb|YEM}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium = Changlimithang Stadium

| location = Thimphu, Bhutan

| attendance =

| referee =

| report =

| result = D

}}

{{football box collapsible

|format = 1

|date = 4 June

|time =

|round = Friendly

|score =

|report =

|team1 = {{fb-rt|BAN}}

|goals1 =

|team2 = {{fb|BHU}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = National Stadium

|location = Dhaka, Bangladesh

|referee =

|result =

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

| format = 1

| round = 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification

| date = 10 June

| time = {{UTZ|20:00|8}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|BRU}}

| score =

| report =

| team2 = {{fb|BHU}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

|stadium= Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium

|location= Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

| attendance =

| referee =

| result =

}}

{{football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification

| date = 9 October

| time = {{UTZ||}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|LBN}}

| score =

| team2 = {{fb|BHU}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium =

| location =

| attendance =

| referee =

| report =

| result =

}}

{{football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification

| date = 14 October

| time = {{UTZ||}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|BHU}}

| score =

| team2 = {{fb|LBN}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium = Changlimithang Stadium

| location = Thimphu, Bhutan

| attendance =

| referee =

| report =

| result =

}}

{{football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification

| date = 18 November

| time = {{UTZ||}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|YEM}}

| score =

| team2 = {{fb|BHU}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium =

| location =

| attendance =

| referee =

| report =

| result =

}}

{{football box collapsible

| format = 1

| round = 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification

| date = 31 March 2026

| time = {{UTZ||}}

| team1 = {{fb-rt|BHU}}

| score =

| team2 = {{fb|BRU}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium = Changlimithang Stadium

| location = Thimphu, Bhutan

| attendance =

| referee =

| report =

| result =

}}

{{updated|7 August 2024}}

{{updated|25 March 2024}}

{{note label|1|1}} Coached in an interim capacity.

The following players were named in the squad for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification – third round match against {{fb|YEM}} on 25th March 2025.{{cite web |title=𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙤𝙣 𝘽𝙤𝙮𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘽𝙝𝙪𝙩𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙥𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙁𝘾 𝘼𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝘾𝙪𝙥 𝙌𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙙 𝙍𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙!|url=https://web.facebook.com/bhutanfootball/posts/pfbid0x5vzDRatSd4DepJmfb8Pqk1anFumGa4jfXmyEV13wgbuwdhaFXM51HoRhgVizuyQl|date=16 January 2025|website=Facebook|publisher=Bhutan Football Federation}}

Caps and goals updated as of 8 September 2024

{{nat fs g start}}

{{nat fs g player|no=1|pos=GK|name=Dendup Namgyel|age={{birth date and age|2002|8|15|df=y}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Royal College|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=21|pos=GK|name=Tobgay|age={{birth date and age|1998|9|29|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=Tensung|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=20|pos=GK|name=Tenzin Dorji|age=|caps=0|goals=0|club=Paro|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs g player|no=2|pos=DF|name=Yeshi Gyeltshen|age={{birth date and age|2001|10|30|df=y}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=Royal College|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=3|pos=DF|name=Sherub Dorji|age={{birth date and age|2002|4|17|df=y}}|caps=11|goals=0|club=Royal College|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=4|pos=DF|name=Tenzin Norbu|age={{birth date and age|2001|5|8|df=y}}|caps=8|goals=1|club=Balga SC|clubnat=AUS}}

{{nat fs g player|no=6|pos=DF|name=Jignam Seltob Dorji|age={{birth date and age|2006|1|13|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=BFF Academy|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=9|pos=DF|name=Tenzin Dorji|age={{birth date and age|1997|8|18|df=y}}|caps=21|goals=0|club=Druk Lhayul|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=14|pos=DF|name=Kezang Dorji|age={{birth date and age|2002|4|23|df=y}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=Paro|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=13|pos=DF|name=Jigdrel Wangchuk|age={{birth date and age|2002|9|12|df=y}}|caps=3|goals=0|club=Transport United||clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=18|pos=DF|name=Kinzang Tashi Tobden|age={{birth date and age|2005|2|3|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=Thimphu City|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=19|pos=DF|name=Nima Gyeltshen|age={{birth date and age|2002|12|4|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=Royal College|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs g player|no=5|pos=MF|name=Karma Chetrim|age={{birth date and age|2003|2|20|df=y}}|caps=3|goals=0|club=Ugyen Academy|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=7|pos=MF|name=Rinzin Dorji|age={{birth date and age|2007|6|4|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=BFF Academy|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=8|pos=MF|name=Phurba Tenzin|age={{birth date and age|1999|8|6|df=y}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=Thimphu City|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=10|pos=MF|name=Orgyen Tshering|age={{birth date and age|1999|9|14|df=y}}|caps=9|goals=0|club=Thimphu City|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=12|pos=MF|name=Pema Zangpo|age={{birth date and age|2005|3|24|df=y}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=BFF Academy|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=15|pos=MF|name=Nima Wangdi|other=Captain|age={{birth date and age|1998|12|6|df=y}}|caps=26|goals=0|club=Thimphu City|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=16|pos=MF|name=Tshelthrim Namgyel|age={{birth date and age|2002|7|1|df=y}}|caps=11|goals=1|club=Paro|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs break}}

{{nat fs g player|no=11|pos=FW|name=Kinga Wangchuk|age={{birth date and age|2002|9|19|df=y}}|caps=10|goals=1|club=Transport United|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=17|pos=FW|name=Kelzang Jigme|age={{birth date and age|2004|1|17|df=y}}|caps=2|goals=0|club=Royal College|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=22|pos=FW|name=Kinzang Tenzin|age={{birth date and age|2002|9|19|df=y}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Royal College|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=23|pos=FW|name=Bikash Pradhan|age={{birth date and age|2004|1|21|df=y}}|caps=4|goals=0|club=Transport United|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs end}}

The following players have also been called up to the Bangladesh squad within the last twelve months.

{{nat fs r start|background=#002868|color=white}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=GK|name=Tshering Dendup|age={{birth date and age|1992|1|21|df=y}}|caps=9|goals=0|club=Thimphu City|clubnat=BHU|latest=v. {{fb|BAN}}; 5 September 2024}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=GK|name=Hari Gurung|age={{birth date and age|1990|2|18|df=y}}|caps=31|goals=0|club=Transport United|clubnat=BHU|latest=v. {{fb|BAN}}; 5 September 2024}}

{{nat fs break|background=#002868}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=Dawa Tshering|age={{birth date and age|1998|8|21|df=y}}|caps=17|goals=0|club=Delhi|clubnat=IND|latest=v. {{fb|YEM}}; 25 March 2025^PRE}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=Pema Dhendup|age={{birth date and age|2001|2|26|df=y}}|caps=4|goals=0|club=Transport United||clubnat=BHU|latest=v. {{fb|BAN}}; 5 September 2024}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=Kinley Gyeltshen|age={{birth date and age|2001|7|20|df=y}}|caps=0|goals=0|club=Royal College|clubnat=BHU|latest=v. {{fb|BAN}}; 5 September 2024}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=DF|name=Nima Tshering|age={{birth date and age|1998|3|7|df=y}}|caps=4|goals=0|club=Paro|clubnat=BHU|latest=v. {{fb|BAN}}; 5 September 2024}}

{{nat fs break|background=#002868}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=Dilip Mongar|age={{birth date and age|1998|10|15|df=y}}|caps=1|goals=0|club=Transport United|clubnat=BHU|latest=v. {{fb|BAN}}; 5 September 2024}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=MF|name=Karma Shedrup Tshering|age={{birth date and age|1990|4|9|df=y}}|caps=39|goals=1|club=Thimphu City|clubnat=BHU|latest=v. {{fb|BAN}}; 5 September 2024}}

{{nat fs break|background=#0B0B3F}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=Chencho Gyeltshen|age={{birth date and age|1996|5|10|df=y}}|caps=46|goals=13|club=Lalitpur City|clubnat=NEP|latest=v. {{fb|YEM}}; 25 March 2025^INJ}}

{{nat fs r player|no=|pos=FW|name=Yeshi Dorji|age={{birth date and age|2001|10|10|df=y}}|caps=6|goals=0|club=Paro|clubnat=BHU|latest=v. {{fb|BAN}}; 5 September 2024}}

{{nat fs break|background=#0B0B3F}}

^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.

{{nat fs end|background=#002868}}

{{Updated|25 March 2025}}{{cite web |title=Bhutan |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/country/24/Bhutan.html |website=National Football Teams}}

:Players in bold are still active with Bhutan.

File:CHENCHO (cropped).jpg

{{small|*: 2019 qualification campaign also included qualifying matches from the Asian section of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification. In 2014, a proposal to merge the preliminary qualification rounds of the FIFA World Cup with those of the AFC Asian Cup was ratified by the AFC Competitions Committee. The new qualification structure took place in three stages, with the first two merging with the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification.{{cite web |title=ExCo approves expanded AFC Asian Cup finals |url=http://www.the-afc.com/executive-committee/exco-approves-expanded-afc-asian-cup-finals |publisher=AFC |date=16 April 2014 |access-date=25 August 2014 |archive-date=3 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503231420/http://www.the-afc.com/executive-committee/exco-approves-expanded-afc-asian-cup-finals |url-status=live }}}}

:*Denotes draws includes knockout matches decided on penalty kicks. Red border indicates that the tournament was hosted on home soil. Gold, silver, bronze backgrounds indicates 1st, 2nd and 3rd finishes respectively. Bold text indicates best finish in tournament.

:Last match updated: {{Fb|BAN}} on 8 September 2024.

{{legend2|CCFFCC|More wins|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|FFFFCC|Wins equal losses|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|FFDACC|More losses|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

Unofficial matches

{{small|NB: Unofficial matches includes ANFA Cup matches against teams other than the official Nepal national team, four friendly matches against Tibet and Bangladesh and two charity matches against Buriram United.}}

{{small|*: Includes unofficial matches in the 1986 ANFA Cup against Hong Kong Gurkhas and Nepal Youth which sources indicate were drawn but for which no score is available. The results are included here statistically as 0–0 for the purpose of completeness.}}

File:Bhutan Average FIFA Rankings 2000-2016.jpg

Prior to the victories over Sri Lanka, their highest FIFA ranking achieved was 187th, which they last reached in December 2008 following their semi-final performance in the 2008 SAFF Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/associations/association=bhu/ranking/gender=m/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701073903/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=bhu/ranking/gender=m/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 July 2007|title=Bhutan – Ranking|date=17 July 2014|website=fifa.com|publisher=FIFA|access-date=18 July 2014}} From that high point, they slipped down the rankings to last place in December 2012 to join San Marino and the Turks and Caicos Islands in 207th. They fell to 208th place following the admission to FIFA of South Sudan in July 2014, and dropped to 209th as the only team without ranking points following San Marino's draw with Estonia.{{cite web|title=Latest FIFA Rankings November 2014 – San Marino's Delight|url=http://theworstintheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/latest-fifa-rankings-november-2014-san.html|publisher=Worst in the World|access-date=13 January 2015|archive-date=13 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113164436/http://theworstintheworld.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/latest-fifa-rankings-november-2014-san.html|url-status=live}} However, Bhutan rose to 163rd on the FIFA rankings after two victories over Sri Lanka in World Cup qualifying, achieving their highest ranking ever in April 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.football-rankings.info/2015/04/fifa-ranking-april-2015-final-preview.html |title=FIFA Ranking: April 2015 final preview |author= |date=3 April 2015 |website=football-rankings.info |publisher=football-rankings.info |access-date=12 February 2016 |archive-date=24 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224075032/http://www.football-rankings.info/2015/04/fifa-ranking-april-2015-final-preview.html |url-status=live }} They then rose to 156th in June 2015.{{cite web |url=http://www.football-rankings.info/2015/05/fifa-ranking-june-2015-final-preview.html |title=FIFA Ranking: June 2015 final preview |author= |date=29 May 2015 |website=football-rankings.info |publisher=football-rankings.info |access-date=12 February 2016 |archive-date=10 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810182924/http://www.football-rankings.info/2015/05/fifa-ranking-june-2015-final-preview.html |url-status=live }} However, following their performance in the second round of world cup qualifying in which they have failed to win a game, they slipped back to 193rd as of February,{{cite web |url=http://www.football-rankings.info/2016/01/fifa-ranking-february-2016-probable_8.html |title=FIFA Ranking: February 2016 probable ranking |author= |date=29 May 2015 |website=football-rankings.info |publisher=football-rankings.info |access-date=12 February 2016 |archive-date=13 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213121911/http://www.football-rankings.info/2016/01/fifa-ranking-february-2016-probable_8.html |url-status=live }} but have since risen to 185th as of November 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/associations/association=bhu/men/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610040659/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/associations/association=bhu/men/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 June 2015 |title=Bhutan – Men's Ranking |author= |date=7 April 2016 |website=fifa.com |publisher=FIFA |access-date=15 April 2016}}

{{clear}}

File:Bhutan Year End Elo Ratings 1984-2016.jpg

The team is also ranked extremely low on the all time Elo ratings at 227th out of 234 as of December 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.eloratings.net/world.html|title=World Football Elo Ratings|date=2 June 2014|website=eloratings.net|publisher=World Football Elo Ratings web site and Advanced Satellite Consulting|access-date=18 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723114655/http://www.eloratings.net/world.html|archive-date=23 July 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} There is one FIFA affiliated team ranked below them, American Samoa. Their initial comparatively high position in the 1980s was more to do with the number of nations competing globally at the time than their specific performances. Since they have started competing with a degree of regularity on the continental scene, Bhutan have always hovered at or near the bottom of the ratings. Their high point in the 21st century was 218th as a result of their performance at the 2008 SAFF Championship.

{{clear}}

• The Other Final
• Winners: 2002

• SAFF Championship Fair Play Award: 2005, 2018

{{portal|Association football|}}

• Bhutan national under-23 football team
• Bhutan national under-20 football team
• Bhutan national under-17 football team
• Bhutan national futsal team

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|https://bhutanfootball.org/}}
• [https://www.the-afc.com/en/south/bhutan.html Bhutan] at AFC
• [https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/associations/BHU Bhutan] at FIFA
• [http://www.eloratings.net/Bhutan.htm ELO team records]

{{Bhutan national football team}}

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Category:Asian national association football teams

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