Bhutan national under-23 football team

Bhutan made their debut at the 9th South Asian Federation Games in 2004. The senior national team had previously competed on multiple occasions in the football tournaments of the South Asian Games, but this was the first time that the tournament was restricted to under-23 teams.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/safg01.html |title=9th South Asian Federation Games 2004 (Pakistan) |last1=Courtney |first1=Barrie |last2=Hai Naveed |first2=Malik Riaz |date=25 June 2006 |website=RSSSF |access-date=8 April 2016}} The tournament was originally scheduled for 2001, but was cancelled due to the conflict in neighbouring Afghanistan. It was rescheduled for 2003, but Bhutan withdrew. This time, due to the war in Iraq, the tournament was postponed for a second time but was rescheduled a second time for 2004, which Bhutan re-entered. Drawn in a three team group including Nepal and Sri Lanka (following the Maldives' withdrawal), an opening 0–0 draw with Nepal was a positive start. With Sri Lanka beating both Bhutan and Nepal 1–0 in the remaining two group games, Bhutan finished with an identical record to Nepal, but progressed to the knockout rounds winning the toss of a coin. A 4–1 loss to India in the semi-finals, with Pema Chophel scoring the team's first ever goal, saw them face Sri Lanka again in the bronze medal play off match. This time they produced a better performance drawing 0–0 after sudden death extra time, but ultimately lost 3–2 in the resulting penalty shoot out to finish in fourth place overall.

Their next international fixtures were in the 2006 South Asian Games.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/safg06.html |title=10th South Asian Federation Games 2006 (Colombo) |last1=Hai Naveed |first1=Malik Riaz |date=19 February 2010 |website=RSSSF |access-date=8 April 2015}} This time they were less successful. Drawn in a group with Sri Lanka, Pakistan national under-23 football team and the Maldives, Bhutan were eliminated after losing all three of their games: 1–0 against the Maldives and 4–0 against both Pakistan and Sri Lanka to return home without scoring a goal.

There was a four-year gap this time between editions of the South Asian Games, but Bhutan sent their under-23 team to Bangladesh in 2010.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/safg2010.html |title=11th South Asian Federation Games 2010 (Bangladesh) |last1=Hai Naveed |first1=Malik Riaz |date=19 February 2010 |website=RSSSF |access-date=8 April 2015}} Again they were drawn in a four team group, this time with Bangladesh, Nepal and the Maldives, and again they were eliminated following three consecutive losses: 1–0 versus the Maldives, 4–0 versus Bangladesh and then 2–0 versus Nepal to return home for a second time in a row without scoring a goal.

Bhutan's next, and to date most recent series of matches was in 2016, again at the South Asian Games.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/safg2016.html |title=12th South Asian Federation Games 2016 (India) |last1=Di Maggio |first1=Roberto |date=18 February 2016 |website=RSSSF |access-date=8 April 2015}} This time, they were drawn in a three team group, again playing matches against Bangladesh and Nepal. they lost their first match 5–0 to Nepal, to date their heaviest defeat, though they rallied in their final match to draw 1–1 with Bangladesh, and in doing so score only their second ever goal and their first in twelve years through Jigme Dorji. However, this was not enough to seal progression to the knockout stages as Bangladesh beat Nepal in their final group game to claim second place and Bhutan were eliminated.

The following squad was selected for the 2016 South Asian Games:{{cite web |url=http://www.goalnepal.com/matchinfo.php?id=1974 |title=Nepal U-23 5-0 Bhutan U-23 |author= |date=7 February 2016 |website=goalnepal.com |publisher=GoalNepal.com |access-date=5 July 2016}}

{{nat fs g start|background=#ED1C24|color=#ffffff}}

{{nat fs g player|no= 1|pos=GK|name=Tshering Dendup|age={{birth date and age|1994|4|4|df=y}}|caps=|goals=|club=Yeedzin|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=21|pos=GK|name=Gyaltshen Zangpo|age= |caps= |goals= |club=|clubnat= }}

{{nat fs g player|no=13|pos=GK|name=Tobgay|age= |caps= |goals= |club=|clubnat= }}

{{nat fs break|background=#3F43A4}}

{{nat fs g player|no=2|pos=DF|name=Kinley Penjor|age= |caps= |goals= |club=|clubnat= }}

{{nat fs g player|no=4|pos=DF|name=Jigme Dorji|age={{birth date and age|1995|2|26|df=y}} |caps= |goals= |club=|clubnat= }}

{{nat fs g player|no=5|pos=DF|name=Tenzing Dorji|age= |caps= |goals= |club=|clubnat= }}

{{nat fs g player|no=6|pos=DF|name=Chimi Dorji|other=Captain|age={{birth date and age|1993|12|22|df=y}}|caps=|goals=|club=Druk Star|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=8|pos=DF|name=Nima Wangdi|age= |caps= |goals= |club=|clubnat= }}

{{nat fs g player|no=20|pos=DF|name=Choki Wangchuk|age= |caps= |goals= |club=|clubnat= }}

{{nat fs break|background=#3F43A4}}

{{nat fs g player|no= 9|pos=MF|name=Tenzin Shezang|age= |caps= |goals= |club=|clubnat= }}

{{nat fs g player|no=11|pos=MF|name=Sonam Tobgay|age= |caps= |goals= |club=|clubnat= }}

{{nat fs g player|no=12|pos=MF|name=Lungtok Dawa|age={{birth date and age|1998|12|18|df=y}}|caps=|goals=|club=Druk Star|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=14|pos=MF|name=Dawa Tshering|age=|caps=|goals=|club=Ugyen Academy FC|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=16|pos=MF|name=Tshering Dorji|age={{birth date and age|1993|9|10|df=y}}|caps=|goals=|club=Thimphu City|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=17|pos=MF|name=Biren Basnet|age={{birth date and age|1994|10|20|df=y}}|caps=|goals=|club=Thimphu City|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs g player|no=3|pos=MF|name=Lhendup Dorji|age={{birth date and age|1994|12|5|df=y}}|caps=|goals=|club=Druk Star|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs break|background=#3F43A4}}

{{nat fs g player|no=7|pos=FW|name=Chencho Gyeltshen|age={{birth date and age|1996|05|10|df=y}}|caps=|goals=|club=Satun United|clubnat=THA}}

{{nat fs g player|no=15|pos=FW|name=Kesang Penjor|age= |caps= |goals= |club=|clubnat= }}

{{nat fs g player|no=18|pos=FW|name=Dorji|age= |caps= |goals= |club=|clubnat= }}

{{nat fs g player|no=19|pos=FW|name=Kezang Wangdi|age=|caps=|goals=|club=Druk Star|clubnat=BHU}}

{{nat fs end}}

{{Main|Bhutan national under-23 football team results}}

{{footballbox collapsible

| date = 7 February 2016

| time = 14:00 UTC+5.5

| round = 2016 South Asian Games

| team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|BHU}}

| score = 0–5

| report = [http://www.goalnepal.com/matchinfo.php?id=1974 Report]

| team2 = {{fbu|23|NEP}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 = {{Goal|33||75||85}} Shrestha
{{goal|44}} Bishal Rai
{{Goal|51}} Bista

| stadium = SAI Centre, Paltan Bazaar

| attendance =195

| referee =

| result = L

}}

{{footballbox collapsible

| date = 9 February 2016

| time = 14:00 UTC+5.5

| round = 2016 South Asian Games

| team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|BAN}}

| score = 1–1

| report =

| team2 = {{fbu|23|BHU}}

| goals1 = Jibon {{goal|42}}

| goals2 ={{goal|19}} Dorji

| stadium = SAI Centre, Paltan Bazaar

| attendance =

| referee =

| result = D

}}

:Last match updated: {{Fb|NEP}} on 10 December 2019.

{{Portal|Association football}}

• Bhutan national football team
• Bhutan women's national football team
• Bhutan national under-19 football team
• Bhutan national under-17 football team
• Bhutan national futsal team

{{reflist|2}}

{{National sports teams of Bhutan}}

{{Football in Bhutan}}

Category:Asian national under-23 association football teams

Under-23