Bhutan_women's_national_football_team
Bhutan women's national football team
Women's national association football team representing Bhutan
The Bhutan women's national football team represents Bhutan in international women's football. The team is controlled by the governing body for football in Bhutan, the Bhutan Football Federation, which is currently a member of the Asian Football Federation and the regional body the South Asian Football Federation.
| Nickname(s) | Dragon Ladies | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Bhutan Football Federation | |||
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) | |||
| Sub-confederation | SAFF (South Asia) | |||
| Head coach | Karma Choden | |||
| Top scorer | Deki Lhazom Tsering Yangden (3) | |||
| Home stadium | Changlimithang Stadium | |||
| FIFA code | BHU | |||
| ||||
| FIFA ranking | ||||
| Current | 173  1 (15 March 2024)[1] | |||
| Highest | 113 (March 2017; March 2018) | |||
| Lowest | 178 (March 2023) | |||
| First international | ||||
 Bangladesh 7–0 Bhutan  (Dhaka, Bangladesh; 6 December 2010) | ||||
| Biggest win | ||||
Bhutan 5–0 Sri Lanka  (Kathmandu, Nepal; 9 September 2022) | ||||
| Biggest defeat | ||||
 India 18–0 Bhutan (Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh; 13 December 2010) | ||||
| SAFF Championship | ||||
| Appearances | 6 (first in 2010) | |||
| Best result | Semi-finals (2022) | |||
Bhutan play their home games at the national stadium, Changlimithang. It is one of the younger national teams in the world having played its first match in 2010.
Introduction to Bhutanese Football
Bhutanese football in general came to the international stage comparatively late in the day with the men's national team only playing their first competitive international match in 1982[2] and the only junior team to compete internationally, the Under-17s making their debut in 2003.[3]
The women's team did not enter any form of international competition until 2010.[4] Prior to their entry into international football, a formal women's competition was established in Bhutan for the first time, supported by a grant from FIFA and run by the Bhutan Football Federation.[5] Because of the very under-developed state of women's football in Bhutan at this time, club teams did not exist and so the tournament consisted of teams representing individual Dzongkhags.[5] This competition was used not only to increase the popularity of football amongst women in the country, but also to act as means of identifying and coaching players who would form the first ever Bhutan women's national football squad.[5]
Competitive debut
Their first ever competitive game was a friendly match against Bangladesh in Dhaka on 6 December 2010 as a warm up for their appearance at the inaugural SAFF Women's Championships a week later.[4] Unfortunately, their debut was one to forget as, having travelled to Cox's Bazar where all of the group matches were scheduled to take place, they succumbed 7–0 to their hosts.[4] Their competition proper got off to an even worse start as they lost 18–0 to India, one of the strongest teams in the region.[4] Bangladesh then repeated their performance in the pre-competition friendly running out 9–0 victors and eliminating Bhutan from the competition.[4] The team were able to salvage some pride in their final game, drawing 1–1 with Sri Lanka, which marks their only positive result of any kind as well as their first competitive goal (one of two times they have scored a goal in a competitive match).[4]
Their performance at the SAFF Championships saw them gain 889 ranking points.[6] Although they were at this stage only provisionally ranked in 127th and last place as they had not played the required number of five competitive matches against officially ranked teams, their performance saw them achieve a higher points total than four other provisionally ranked teams: the U.S. Virgin Islands, Liberia, Qatar and Afghanistan.[6] Had they been officially ranked, their points tally would have placed them in 122nd place ahead of ranked nations Tanzania, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda and Botswana.[6]
Withdrawal and return to international football
The women's team then withdrew from international football for the next two years, re-emerging to play in the 2012 SAFF Women's Championship. Prior to the tournament in Sri Lanka, the team of twenty five, including two referees and physiotherapists, but with the playing squad consisting entirely of students, flew to Bangkok for two weeks training to get accustomed to warmer weather.[7] They entered the tournament provisionally ranked 34th out of 35 in the Asian Football Confederation, with only Afghanistan ranked below them, and unranked on the global listing because they had been inactive for more than eighteen months.[6] At this point, with their points total of 889, they had a higher technical rating than twelve teams who were either unranked due to inactivity or provisionally ranked in last place due to insufficient competition and had more ranking points than five officially ranked teams: Iraq, Mozambique, Malawi, Antigua and Barbuda and Bostswana.[6]
The team travelled to Sri Lanka to play their fixtures at the Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club Grounds and were drawn in a group with the same teams as the previous edition of the tournament. Sri Lanka took advantage of their status as hosts in the first match, beating Bhutan 4–0, taking the lead after just four minutes through Nilushika Kumari, with Praveena Perera wrapping up the scoring at the end of the game following two goals either side of half time from Erandi Kumudumala.[8] Bhutan performed better in their next game, a narrow 1–0 loss to Bangladesh, but this eliminated them from the tournament.[9] Their final match against India was very one-sided, though not as great a defeat as last time, India still ran out victors 11–0 sending Bhutan home without a point or a goal.[10]
Rankings, performance, and current status
Having now played the required five games against already ranked teams, Bhutan received their first official ranking position: 128th, ahead of Antigua and Barbuda and Botswana.[6] Bhutan have not played a competitive match since the 2014 SAFF Championships, but due to movements around them, did climb to a high ranking of 115th in December 2013.[6]
Bhutan took part in the 2014 SAFF Women's Championship in Pakistan, losing all three games, including a 4–1 loss to host Pakistan in which Tshering Yangdon scored just the second official goal in the team's history.[citation needed]
Home stadium
The Bhutan women's national football team plays their home matches on the Changlimithang Stadium.[citation needed]
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
- Legend
Win Draw Lose Fixture
2023
v Bhutan
| 5 April 2023 (2023-04-05) 2024 AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 1 | Uzbekistan | 9–0 | Bhutan | Tashkent, Uzbekistan |
| 17:00 UTC+5 |
|
Report | Stadium: Milliy Stadium Attendance: 145 Referee: Azusa Sugino (Japan) |
v 
Jordan
| 8 April 2023 (2023-04-08) 2024 AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 1 | Bhutan | 2–1 | Jordan | Tashkent, Uzbekistan |
| 15:00 UTC+5 |
|
Report | Stadium: Pakhtakor Stadium Referee: Atena Lashani (Iran) |
v Bhutan
| 11 April 2023 (2023-04-11) 2024 AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 1 | East Timor | 1–3 | Bhutan | Tashkent, Uzbekistan |
| 15:00 UTC+5 |
|
|
Stadium: Pakhtakor Stadium |
v Bhutan
| 21 September 2023 2023 Women's Friendly Tournament | Lebanon | 3–2 | Bhutan | Taif, Saudi Arabia |
| 17:30 UTC+3 |
|
Stadium: King Fahd Sports City |
v 
Laos
| 24 September 2023 2023 Women's Friendly Tournament | Bhutan | 0–0 | Laos | Taif, Saudi Arabia |
| 17:30 UTC+3 | Stadium: King Fahd Sports City |
v Bhutan
| 27 September 2023 2023 Women's Friendly Tournament SF | Saudi Arabia | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | Bhutan | Taif, Saudi Arabia |
| 20:30 UTC+3 |
|
Stadium: King Fahd Sports City Referee: Nodira Mirzoeva (Tajikistan) |
v Bhutan
| 30 September 2023 2023 Women's Friendly Tournament F | Lebanon | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Bhutan | Taif, Saudi Arabia |
| 20:30 UTC+3 |
|
Stadium: King Fahd Sports City Referee: Nodira Mirzoeva (Tajikistan) |
2024
As of October 2023:
- Key
The following table shows Bhutan' all-time official international record per opponent:
| Opponent | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W% | Confederation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 27 | –27 | 0.00 | AFC |
| India | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29 | –29 | 0.00 | AFC |
| Jordan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 100.00 | AFC |
 Maldives | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | –2 | 0.00 | AFC |
 Nepal | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 27 | –27 | 0.00 | AFC |
 Pakistan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | –3 | 0.00 | AFC |
| Saudi Arabia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 77.00 | AFC |
| Laos | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33.00 | AFC |
| Lebanon | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | –2 | 0.00 | AFC |
| Sri Lanka | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 11 | +1 | 37.50 | AFC |
| East Timor | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 100.00 | AFC |
| Uzbekistan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | –9 | 0.00 | AFC |
| Total | 28 | 7 | 3 | 20 | 27 | 113 | –86 | 17.86 | — |
Current coaching staff
- As of 1 September 2023
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Karma Choden |
| Media officer | Cheki wangmo |
| Assistant coach | Tanka Maya |
| Goalkeeping coach | Mon Bhattrai |
| Physiotherapist | Chhador Zangmo |
| Team manager | Tashi Wangmo |
Manager history
| Name | Period | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| Kota Namgay |
2010–2012 | 2010 SAFF Women's Championship: Eighth Place (Last) 2012 SAFF Women's Championship: Eighth Place (Last) |
| Dorji Khandu |
2014 | 2012 SAFF Women's Championship: Seventh Place |
 Lee Sung-jea |
2016–2019 | 2016 SAFF Women's Championship: Seventh Place (Last) 2019 SAFF Women's Championship: Sixth Place |
| Denka Na[11] |
2019 | |
| Hong Kyung-suk[12] |
2022–2023 | 2022 SAFF Women's Championship: Semi-finalist |
| Karma Choden |
2023 | 2023 SAFF Women's Friendly Tournament: Finalist |
 Nicola Demaine |
2024–Present |
Current squad
- The following players were called up for the 2023 SAFF Women's International Friendly Tournament (Taif) in September 2023.[13]
Caps and goals are updated as of 9 September 2022 after the match against Sri Lanka.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1GK | Sangita Monger | (1999-06-28) 28 June 1999 (age 24) | Ugyen Academy | ||
| 21 | 1GK | Karma Yuden | (2004-11-02) 2 November 2004 (age 19) | Transport United FC | ||
| 22 | 1GK | Kinzang Dema | (2004-02-15) 15 February 2004 (age 20) | Royal Thimphu College FC | ||
| 2 | 2DF | Pema Wangmo | Transport United FC | |||
| 3 | 2DF | Karma Zangmo | (2002-08-05) 5 August 2002 (age 21) | Paro FC | ||
| 4 | 2DF | Tashi Wangmo | | |||
| 5 | 2DF | Suk Maya Ghalley | (1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 25) | Royal Thimphu College FC | ||
| 12 | 2DF | Jamyang Choden | (2001-04-03) 3 April 2001 (age 23) | BFF Academy | ||
| 15 | 2DF | Sonam Choden | (1999-09-05) 5 September 1999 (age 24) | Mandala FC | ||
| 16 | 2DF | Dorji Edon | (2001-10-09) 9 October 2001 (age 22) | Ugyen Academy | ||
| 18 | 2DF | Rigzin Wangmo | (2003-10-28) 28 October 2003 (age 20) | Ugyen Academy | ||
| 20 | 2DF | Ugyen Choden | (2001-04-24) 24 April 2001 (age 22) | | ||
| 6 | 3MF | Pema Choden Tshering | (1996-02-05) 5 February 1996 (age 28) | Thimphu City | ||
| 8 | 3MF | Deki Yangdon | (2003-06-27) 27 June 2003 (age 20) | Paro FC | ||
| 11 | 3MF | Namgyel Dema | (2000-08-13) 13 August 2000 (age 23) | Thimphu City FC | ||
| 13 | 3MF | Sunita Rai | (2001-07-08) 8 July 2001 (age 22) | Ugyen Academy | ||
| 14 | 3MF | Tshering Lhaden | (1999-11-20) 20 November 1999 (age 24) | Paro FC | ||
| 17 | 3MF | Sonam Tshomo | (2004-03-12) 12 March 2004 (age 20) | | ||
| 19 | 3MF | Yeshey Bidha | (2004-03-27) 27 March 2004 (age 20) | Royal Thimphu College | ||
| 24 | 3MF | Tshering Choden | (2005-09-09) 9 September 2005 (age 18) | Royal Thimphu College | ||
| 7 | 4FW | Tshering Yangden | (1999-08-16) 16 August 1999 (age 24) | Ugyen Academy | ||
| 9 | 4FW | Deki Lhazom | (2004-01-04) 4 January 2004 (age 20) | 5 | 3 | Al-Ittihad |
| 10 | 4FW | Sonam Lhamo | (2004-05-29) 29 May 2004 (age 19) | Paro FC | ||
| 23 | 4FW | Pema Choeki | BFF Academy | |||
| 25 | 4FW | Ganga Challey | ||||
Recent call-ups
- The following players have been called up to a Bhutan squad in the past 12 months.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Norbu Zangmo | (2005-08-10) 10 August 2005 (age 18) | |
|||
| DF | Kelden Lhamo | (2003-09-28) 28 September 2003 (age 20) | |
|||
| DF | Karma Wangmo | (2003-04-01) 1 April 2003 (age 21) | Paro FC |
|||
| DF | Kinley Zangmo | (2001-04-26) 26 April 2001 (age 22) | |
|||
| MF | Sonam Yangchen | (1996-04-16) 16 April 1996 (age 27) | |
|||
Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 2020.
Most capped players
|
Top goalscorers
|
![[icon]](./File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small}
FIFA Women's World Cup
| FIFA Women's World Cup record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hosts / Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA |
 1991 to   2023 |
did not enter | ||||||
| Total | 0/9 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
AFC Women's Asian Cup
| AFC Women's Asian Cup record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hosts / Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA |
 1975 to 2022 | did not enter | ||||||
| Total | 0/20 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
SAFF Women's Championship
| SAFF Women's Championship record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hosts / Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA |
| 2010 | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 28 |
| 2012 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16 | |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 15 | |
| 2016 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 13 | |
 2019 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | |
| 2022 | Semi-finals | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 12 |
| Total | 6/6 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 89 |
| SAFF Women's Championship history | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Score | Result |
| 2010 | Group stage | India 18–0 Bhutan | Loss |
| Group stage | Bangladesh 9–0 Bhutan | Loss | |
| Group stage | Bhutan 1–1 Sri Lanka | Draw | |
| 2012 | Group stage | Bhutan 0–4 Sri Lanka | Loss |
| Group stage | Bangladesh 1–0 Bhutan | Loss | |
| Group stage | Bhutan 0–11 India | Loss | |
| 2014 | Group stage | Bhutan 0–4 Nepal | Loss |
| Group stage | Bhutan 0–3 Sri Lanka | Loss | |
| Group stage | Bhutan 1–4 Pakistan | Loss | |
| 2016 | Group stage | Bhutan 0–8 Nepal | Loss |
| Group stage | Bhutan 0–2 Sri Lanka | Loss | |
| Group stage | Bhutan 1–3 Maldives | Loss | |
| 2019 | |||
| Group stage | Bhutan 0–3 Nepal | Loss | |
| Group stage | Bangladesh 2–0 Bhutan | Loss | |
| 2022 | |||
| Group stage | Bhutan 0–4 Nepal | Loss | |
| Group stage | Sri Lanka 0–5 Bhutan | Won | |
| Semi-finals | Bangladesh 8–0 Bhutan | Loss | |
- *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.
- Sport in Bhutan
- Football in Bhutan
- Women's football in Bhutan
- Football in Bhutan
- National teams
- Men's
- Bhutan national football team
- Bhutan national under-23 football team
- Bhutan national under-20 football team
- Bhutan national under-17 football team
- Bhutan national futsal team
- Women's
- "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
- "World Football Elo Ratings: Bhutan". eloratings.net. World Football Elo Ratingsand Advanced Satellite Consulting. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
- Diaz Rubio, Julian; Hashim, Refel; Zea, Antonio; Lee, Seungsoo (11 February 2006). "Asian U-17 Championship 2004". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
- "Bhutan Women's Fixtures and Results". FIFA. 31 July 2014. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
- "Sarpang wins inter-dzongkhag women's football". Bhutan Observer. 8 January 2010. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- "FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 18 March 2011. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- Phuntsho, Tashi (September 2012). "Women's national football team in Bangkok". Kuensel. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- "Sri Lanka vs Bhutan – 2014 SAFF Women's Championship". goalnepal.com. 7 September 2012. Archived from the original on 10 July 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- "Bangladesh vs Bhutan – 2014 SAFF Women's Championship". goalnepal.com. 9 September 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- "Bhutan vs India – 2014 SAFF Women's Championship". goalnepal.com. 9 September 2012. Archived from the original on 10 July 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- FIFA.com. "Member Association - Bhutan". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- Official website (BhutanFootball.org)