History
While a Bhutanese National football team has existed since the 1970s, it was officially founded in 1983 and joined FIFA in 2000.
On June 30, 2002, the day of the final match of the 2002 World Cup, Bhutan, then the second-lowest ranked team in the world, recorded their first victory ever. They played against the lowest ranked team, Montserrat, in a friendly match known jokingly as The Other Final, winning 4-0 at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. "The Other Final" was organised by Dutch filmmakers.
Prior to the 2010 World Cup, they were the only FIFA member not to have attempted to qualify for the World Cup. Bhutan withdrew from the 2010 World Cup qualifiers because their stadium would not be ready in time for their matches vs. Kuwait.
Recently the team saw action in the 2008 South Asian Football Federation Cup tournament, reaching the Semifinals, where they lost to India (2 - 1) during stoppage time of extra time. The team also played on 2009 SAFF Cup.
In November 2012 the Bhutan FF announced the start of the country's first ever national league. Kicking off in December 2012 it will feature six teams - three from the capital Thiumpu - and sponsored by Coca-Cola. The aim is to improve international standards. In the same week astro-turf was laid at the national stadium with the aim of hosing international matches if approved by FIFA.
Read more about this topic: Bhutan National Football Team
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“It may be well to remember that the highest level of moral aspiration recorded in history was reached by a few ancient JewsMicah, Isaiah, and the restwho took no count whatever of what might not happen to them after death. It is not obvious to me why the same point should not by and by be reached by the Gentiles.”
—Thomas Henry Huxley (182595)
“A country grows in history not only because of the heroism of its troops on the field of battle, it grows also when it turns to justice and to right for the conservation of its interests.”
—Aristide Briand (18621932)
“Culture, the acquainting ourselves with the best that has been known and said in the world, and thus with the history of the human spirit.”
—Matthew Arnold (18221888)