Toowoomba hosts record-breaking Nepalese football event as 23 teams compete for Khukuri Cup

Nepalese communities gathered from across South East Queensland for the largest-ever Toowoomba Khukuri Cup, finishing with a gripping final.

Santosh Tamang for Toowoomba Nepalese FC Blue against Kuzu Zangpo FC in a Toowoomba Khukuri Cup round hosted by Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club at West Wanderers FC, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Toowoomba cemented itself as a welcoming hub for the state’s Nepalese community as they hosted the annual 7-a-side Toowoomba Khukuri Cup, bringing together teams from across South East Queensland.

Toowoomba Khukuri Cup event co-ordinator Dhiraj Dahal said the tournament, held at West Wanderers Football Club, hosted 63 football games on Sunday from 8am to 6.30pm.

“We’ve been doing this for the last five years, and this was the biggest one out of all of them,” he said.

“The home team played the finals so there was a big crowd from Toowoomba.”

The Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club lost 1-2 to the Brisbane Nepalese Football Club in the finals.

Teams travelled from Brisbane, Ipswich, Gold Coast, and Sunshine Coast for the tournament, and a few players even travelled all the way from Nepal.

Mr Dahal said football was one of the two most important sports in Nepal, along with cricket.

“The main part was to introduce Toowoomba to people and show that it is a good place to be for the Nepalese community,” he said.

“We try to be one of the best Nepalese tournaments in Queensland.”

The tournament also had live entertainment and delicious Nepalese food stands.

Phatteman Ghale of Toowoomba Nepalese FC Blue against Kuzu Zangpo FC in a Toowoomba Khukuri Cup round hosted by Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club at West Wanderers FC, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Toowoomba Khukuri Cup 2025 award winners:

Champions: Brisbane Nepalese Football Club

Runner up: Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club – Home team

Second runners up: Gurkha Football Club – Brisbane-based team

Fair Play Award: Northern Nepalese United Football Club – Brisbane-based team

Top Scorer: Niraj Chaudhary scored 12 goals

Best Goalkeeper: Samuel Shrestha

Player of the Tournament: Niraj Chaudhary

BNAQ FC supporters (from left) Bikesh Magar, Prava Monger and James Shrestha at Toowoomba Khukuri Cup hosted by Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club at West Wanderers FC, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Aashish Lama kicks a goal for Toowoomba Nepalese FC Blue against Kuzu Zangpo FC in a Toowoomba Khukuri Cup round hosted by Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club at West Wanderers FC, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Niraj Gurung for Toowoomba Nepalese FC Blue against Kuzu Zangpo FC in a Toowoomba Khukuri Cup round hosted by Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club at West Wanderers FC, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Santosh Tamang for Toowoomba Nepalese FC Blue against Kuzu Zangpo FC in a Toowoomba Khukuri Cup round hosted by Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club at West Wanderers FC, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Tshering Dema (left) and Tshering Choki support Druk Raven FC at the Toowoomba Khukuri Cup hosted by Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club at West Wanderers FC, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Toowoomba Khukuri Cup organisers Asmit Khadka (left) and Sailesh Thapa (right) with Arun Pandit and some of the trophies at the tournament hosted by Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club at West Wanderers FC, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Royal Coast FC players and supporters (from left) Ishor Gurung, Diwas Roka, Deepanjan Khanal, Manoj Koirala and Srijan Subedi at the Toowoomba Khukuri Cup hosted by Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club at West Wanderers FC, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Enjoying Nepali food are FY FC supporters (from left) Pujan Basnet, Tek Ghemire and Keshav Giri at the Toowoomba Khukuri Cup hosted by Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club at West Wanderers FC, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Caryl Suyom performs originals and covers as caryl at the Toowoomba Khukuri Cup hosted by Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club at West Wanderers FC, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

FY FC supporters (from left) Bipa, Biben and Badri Karki at the Toowoomba Khukuri Cup hosted by Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club at West Wanderers FC, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Toowoomba Yellow players (from left) Ellord Panta, Rashil Devkota and Pramish Bhujel at the Toowoomba Khukuri Cup hosted by Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club at West Wanderers FC, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Santosh Tamang for Toowoomba Nepalese FC Blue against Kuzu Zangpo FC in a Toowoomba Khukuri Cup round hosted by Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club at West Wanderers FC, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Caryl Suyom performs originals and covers as caryl at the Toowoomba Khukuri Cup hosted by Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club at West Wanderers FC, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Dinesh Rajhbanshi (right) of Toowoomba Nepalese FC Blue against Kuzu Zangpo FC in a Toowoomba Khukuri Cup round hosted by Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club at West Wanderers FC, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Asween Bhattarai for Toowoomba Nepalese FC Blue against Kuzu Zangpo FC in a Toowoomba Khukuri Cup round hosted by Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club at West Wanderers FC, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Shyamal Shah and son Alvin watching the Toowoomba Khukuri Cup hosted by Toowoomba Nepalese Football Club at West Wanderers FC, Sunday, December 7, 2025. Picture: Kevin Farmer