KATHMANDU, JANUARY 28
The 15th edition of the Khumbu Lhosar Cup Football Tournament, the largest and most prestigious football event of the Sherpa community, will begin from Magh 24 (February 7) at the ANFA Complex, Satdobato, coinciding with the Gyalpo Lhosar (Sherpa New Year) celebrations.
Organised by the Mahendra Jyoti Ex-Student (Alumni) Forum, the tournament will run until Falgun 3 and feature eight teams representing various Sherpa communities from the Khumbu region as well as Kathmandu-based groups. The participating teams are Mahendra Jyoti Ex-Student Forum (hosts), Namche Youth Group, Khumjung Youth Club, Khunde Community Club, Thamichhova Football Club (Thame), Ama Dablam Youth Group (Pangboche), Khumbu Yambu Sherpa Samaj, and Khumbu United.
The teams will be divided into two groups, with matches played on a league-cum-knockout format. According to Forum Vice-President Phuri Sherpa, the top three teams will receive cash prizes of Rs 150,000, Rs 80,000, and Rs 40,000, respectively, while individual award winners will also be honoured with cash prizes and gift hampers.
Speaking at a press conference in Kathmandu, Forum President Phur Gelje Sherpa, who also serves as the President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, said the tournament was first launched in 2009 to help Sherpa youths residing in Kathmandu make constructive use of the winter off-season during Lhosar. Since then, the Khumbu Lhosar Cup has grown into a major annual sporting and cultural event.
Sherpa said the tournament's core objectives are to promote football among Sherpa youths, identify and nurture talent, and strengthen unity among communities of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, Solukhumbu. He added that the event has evolved into a shared celebration of sport and culture for the entire community, not just the younger generation.
After being staged continuously for years at Sanogauchan Ground, the tournament could not be organised in 2025 due to various reasons. This year's edition has therefore been shifted to the ANFA Complex, with participating teams already having begun their preparations.
Highlighting the broader vision of the organisers, Sherpa said the Khumbu Lhosar Cup also aims to promote sports tourism in Nepal. "Football, with its growing global popularity, provides a strong platform to link sports with tourism promotion. Our goal is to make this tournament sustainable and impactful in the long run," he said.
The Khumbu Lhosar Cup 2026 is sponsored by 14 Peaks Expedition Pvt Ltd, with Heli Everest Pvt Ltd and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality as co-sponsors. Several other organisations are also supporting the event.