Football’s greatest show World Cup 2022 is right around the corner and this post will familiarize you with how to watch the coveted football matches in Nepal. Especially, with the viewers having to pay a subscription fee to watch the games live, many have speculated how to watch the games. Here, we list different ways you can watch Football’s most revered tournament from November 20. You can also find out the entire fixtures in Nepali time below.
But before we talk about how to watch and their Nepali fixtures, let’s talk about the issue over the payment to watch the games live on TV. It seems likely that Nepali Football fans will have to pay to watch the World Cup matches on TV. That is because, on Wednesday, November 16, the joint bench of Justices Prakash Kumar Dhungana and Manoj Kumar Sharma revoked the interim order issued by the single bench of the Supreme Court. Earlier, the Supreme Court issued a short-term interim order on Media Hub not to charge any fee for Football World Cup.
But despite the payment obligation, significant matches will be aired for free viewership in Nepal. Including the inauguration went, two semi-finals and the final games will be live for all irrespective of payment.
Media Hub had halted its preparation for live broadcast amidst the SC’s order, but with the writ petition dismissed, it is free to air the show on a paid basis. “Respecting the order of the court, we had stopped all the preparations, but now the legal way has been opened, Dhital said, “There is no adequate time for technical and other preparations, but we are working day and night, to prepare for live broadcast,” the company’s executive director Som Dhital said.
Now, let’s get back to all things Football World Cup 2022 below.
This year, Nepali viewers will need to execute one more step to watch their favorite teams battling it out at the Football World Cup in Qatar. Media Hub has bought exclusive rights to the matches from Indian company Viacom becoming the sole source for the games in Nepal. And the company has made the competition payment-based. If you want to watch the games, you need to buy a subscription that costs Rs 500 + 13% VAT = Rs 565. Likewise, Himalaya TV is the only TV channel so far confirmed to air the matches.
In past editions, we would have Indian channels such as Ten Sports, or Sony airing the games. NTV and Action Sports were also airing the content for free. But this term, foreign TV channels broadcasting the games won’t be aired in Nepal. Subscription seems to be the only option for now. And buying a subscription will entitle you to the most popular sporting event which happens every four years.
How to watch the World Cup 2022 matches in Nepal?
The options to watch World Cup Football 2022 on TV are limited this time as only a few companies have collaborated with Media Hub. Aside from TV, we can watch games on mobile apps, and also stream online on social media. Let’s find out different ways we can watch the FIFA Football World Cup in Nepal.
IPTVs
As usual, TVs are the foremost option to watch World Cup matches. But so far, only NetTV and ViaTV have been confirmed to broadcast the matches. It rules out cable TV operators from the list. If you are a non-IPTV subscriber, it seems your chance of watching the games is slim. ViaTV has announced the World Cup offer bringing affordable led TV, dual-band router, and internet package.
Most viewers in Nepal get their NetTV and ViaTV subscriptions with their internet packages. So, it makes it easy for them to subscribe to the packages. If you check the list of channels, you will notice two subscription-based Himalaya TVs dedicated to the World Cup matches – Himalaya PREMIUM 1, and Himalaya PREMIUM 2. Besides, Dish Home is also broadcasting the matches in 2K quality. Nepal Television (NTV) also tried to bring the game to its channel but the negotiation failed to strike a deal.
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Himalaya PREMIUM HD Goes Live for World Cup in Nepal
Himalaya PREMIUM HD channel has gone live as Football World Cup first match remains a few hours before its kick-off. The channel is the exclusive broadcasting partner of Media Hub for this tournament. Viewers can watch the entire 64 matches live on the channel after subscription.
After the channel went live, Nepal’s leading cable TV providers, IPTV, DTH, etc. have also begun broadcasting the channel. It’s a new practice in Nepal’s TV history that a payment-based TV channel is started. “For us, it’s a matter of pride to start Himalaya Premium as a paid channel for the first time in Nepal,” said Dharmraj Bhusal, president of Himalaya Television Network, “As foreign broadcasters are taking away billions of rupees from Nepal, we started the practice to stop the cash outflow and offer premium content in the country.”
“When foreign channels are taking billions of rupees from Nepal annually, we have chosen this way to stop it and to increase premium content production in Nepal.”
How to buy a World Cup package in Nepal?
You can pay for the subscription via digital wallets and payment operators such s FonePay, eSewa, and Khalti. Launch the app, tap on “TV”, choose your digital TV service provider, enter your username and buy the world cup package. Khalti has launched a World Cup TV package with a 100% cashback offer. The app allows you to subscribe to the World Cup package within minutes.
Additionally, Ntc has also brought its NT TV customers a World Cup offer which lets users easily subscribe to the World Cup package at home while also receiving mobile data.
You can opt for any method to subscribe to which is most convenient to you.
Apps
If you subscribe to World Cup packages from NetTV, and ViaTV, you might have the convenience of watching the World Cup matches live on smartphones or tablets. And the likelihood has increased after the first round of Group stage matches have been played out. Media Hub says viewers will soon have an option to watch the matches live on mobile apps. The decision comes after a possible ban on ‘illegitimate’ streaming sites and apps in Nepal.
Media Hub’s Executive Director Dhital called viewers’ demand for the ability to watch the games on mobile app “fair” and claimed the preparation to port the matches on smaller screens will complete soon. He said that Nepali Football fans could get access to WC matches on apps when the tournament enters its knockout stage.
Both NetTV and ViaTV apps are available on Android and iOS platforms.
Third-Party apps
You can find many third-party apps on app stores that stream Football matches. If you don’t want a paid subscription, you can resort to such apps for the matches. But be careful. Many such apps are deceitful or are adware. Likewise, such apps suffer from occasional glitches too. Anyway, something is better than nothing.
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Facebook and other sites
Similarly, just like there are many streamers on Facebook and Twitter that air League matches, the same will be for the World Cup too. But just like third-party apps, they could be susceptible to adware, and malware. Be careful not to be redirected to malicious sites that could potentially threaten your personal data. Still, you can count on them as your make-do resorts.
Dish Home, another IPTV provider has also announced that it will be airing World cup matches but has not revealed details. Maybe, the DTH provider is in talks with Media Hub and will only disclose more when talks iron out. We will update more here on this page if something pans out.
FIFA Football World Cup Groups
A total of 32 national teams will participate in a prestigious competition in Qatar this November. The teams are placed in Groups A-H with four teams drawn in each group. The games are divided into Group Stage, Round 16, Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals, Play Off for third place, and the Final. Altogether, there will be 64 matches.
FIFA World Cup 2022: Starts on 20th November 2022 (Mangsir 4, 2079) – ends on 18th December 2022 (Poush 3, 2079)
FIFA Football World Cup 2022 Fixtures in Nepali time
Group Stage:
| Match No. | Group | Fixtures | Nepali Date & Time |
| Match 1 | Group A | Qatar vs. Ecuador | 9:45 pm Sunday, Mangsir 4, 2079 |
| Match 2 | Group A | Senegal vs. Netherlands | 9:45 pm Monday, Mangsir 5, 2079 |
| Match 3 | Group B | England vs. IR Iran | 6:45 pm Monday, Mangsir 5, 2079 |
| Match 4 | Group B | USA vs. Wales | 12:45 am Monday, Mangsir 5, 2079 |
| Match 5 | Group D | France vs. Australia | 12:45 am Tuesday, Mangsir 6, 2079 |
| Match 6 | Group A | Denmark vs. Tunisia | 6:45 pm Tuesday, Mangsir 6, 2079 |
| Match 7 | Group B | Mexico vs. Poland | 9:45 pm Tuesday, Mangsir 6, 2079 |
| Match 8 | Group B | Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia | 3:45 pm Tuesday, Mangsir 6, 2079 |
| Match 9 | Group F | Belgium vs. Canada | 12:45 am Wednesday, Mangsir 7, 2079 |
| Match 10 | Group E | Spain vs. IC Play-off 2 | 9:45 pm Wednesday, Mangsir 7, 2079 |
| Match 11 | Group E | Germany vs. Japan | 6:45 pm Wednesday, Mangsir 7, 2079 |
| Match 12 | Group F | Morocco vs. Croatia | 3:45 pm Wednesday, Mangsir 7, 2079 |
| Match 13 | Group G | Switzerland vs. Cameroon | 3:45 pm Thursday, Mangsir 8, 2079 |
| Match 14 | Group H | Uruguay vs. Korea Republic | 6:45 pm Thursday, Mangsir 8, 2079 |
| Match 15 | Group H | Portugal vs. Ghana | 9:45 pm Thursday, Mangsir 8, 2079 |
| Match 16 | Group G | Brazil vs. Serbia | 12:45 am Thursday, Mangsir 8, 2079) |
| Match 17 | Group B | Wales vs. IR Iran | 3:45 pm Friday, Mangsir 9, 2079 |
| Match 18 | Group A | Qatar vs. Senegal | 6:45 pm Friday, Mangsir 9, 2079 |
| Match 19 | Group A | Netherlands vs. Ecuador | 9:45 pm Friday, Mangsir 9, 2079 |
| Match 20 | Group B | England vs. USA | 12:45 am Friday, Mangsir 9, 2079 |
| Match 21 | Group D | Tunisia vs. Australia | 3:45 pm Saturday, Mangsir 10, 2079 |
| Match 22 | Group C | Poland vs. Saudi Arabia | 6:45 pm Saturday, Mangsir 10, 2079 |
| Match 23 | Group D | France vs. Denmark | 9:45 pm Saturday, Mangsir 10, 2079 |
| Match 24 | Group C | Argentina vs. Mexico | 12:45 am Saturday, Mangsir 10, 2079 |
| Match 25 | Group E | Japan vs. IC Play-off 2 | 3:45 pm Sunday, Mangsir 11, 2079 |
| Match 26 | Group F | Belgium vs. Morocco | 6:45 pm Sunday, Mangsir 11, 2079 |
| Match 27 | Group F | Croatia vs. Canada | 9:45 pm Sunday, Mangsir 11, 2079 |
| Match 28 | Group E | Spain vs. Germany | 12:45 am Sunday, Mangsir 11, 2079 |
| Match 29 | Group G | Cameroon vs. Serbia | 3:45 pm Monday, Mangsir 12, 2079 |
| Match 30 | Group H | Korea Republic vs. Ghana | 6:45 pm Monday, Mangsir 12, 2079 |
| Match 31 | Group G | Brazil vs. Switzerland | 9:45 pm Monday, Mangsir 12, 2079 |
| Match 32 | Group H | Portugal vs. Uruguay | 12:45 am Monday, Mangsir 12, 2079 |
| Match 33 | Group B | Wales vs. England | 12:45 am Tuesday, Mangsir 13, 2079 |
| Match 34 | Group B | IR Iran vs. USA | 12:45 am Tuesday, Mangsir 13, 2079 |
| Match 35 | Group A | Ecuador vs. Senegal | 8:45 pm Tuesday, Mangsir 13, 2079 |
| Match 36 | Group A | Netherlands vs. Qatar | 8:45 pm Tuesday, Mangsir 13, 2079 |
| Match 37 | Group D | Australia vs. Denmark | 8:45 pm Wednesday, Mangsir 14, 2079 |
| Match 38 | Group D | Tunisia vs. France | 8:45 pm Wednesday, Mangsir 14, 2079 |
| Match 39 | Group C | Poland vs. Argentina | 12:45 am Wednesday, Mangsir 14, 2079 |
| Match 40 | Group C | Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico | 12:45 am Wednesday, Mangsir 14, 2079 |
| Match 41 | Group F | Croatia vs. Belgium | 8:45 pm Thursday, Mangsir 15, 2079 |
| Match 42 | Group F | Canada vs. Morocco | 8:45 pm Thursday, Mangsir 15, 2079 |
| Match 43 | Group E | Japan vs. Spain | 12:45 am Thursday, Mangsir 15, 2079 |
| Match 44 | Group E | IC Play-off 2 vs. Germany | 12:45 am Thursday, Mangsir 15, 2079 |
| Match 45 | Group H | Ghana vs. Uruguay | 8:45 pm Friday, Mangsir 16, 2079 |
| Match 46 | Group H | Korea Republic vs. Portugal | 8:45 pm Friday, Mangsir 16, 2079 |
| Match 47 | Group G | Serbia vs. Switzerland | 12:45 am Friday, Mangsir 16, 2079 |
| Match 48 | Group G | Cameroon vs. Brazil | 12:45 am Friday, Mangsir 16, 2079 |
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Round 16:
| Match No. | Fixtures | Nepali Date & Time |
| Match 49 | 1A vs. 2B | 8:45 pm Saturday, Mangsir 17, 2079 |
| Match 50 | 1C vs. 2D | 12:45 am Saturday, Mangsir 17, 2079 |
| Match 51 | 1B vs. 2A | 12:45 am Sunday, Mangsir 18, 2079 |
| Match 52 | 1D vs. 2C | 8:45 pm Sunday, Mangsir 18, 2079 |
| Match 53 | 1E vs. 2F | 8:45 pm Monday, Mangsir 19, 2079 |
| Match 54 | 1G vs. 2H | 12:45 am Monday, Mangsir 19, 2079 |
| Match 55 | 1F vs. 2E | 8:45 pm Tuesday, Mangsir 20, 2079 |
| Match 56 | 1H vs. 2G | 12:45 am Tuesday, Mangsir 20, 2079 |
Quarter-Finals:
| Match No. | Fixtures | Nepali Date & Time |
| Match 57 | Winner 49 vs. Winner 50 | 12:45 am Friday, Mangsir 23, 2079 |
| Match 58 | Winner 53 vs. Winner 54 | 8:45 pm Friday, Mangsir 23, 2079 |
| Match 59 | Winner 51 vs. Winner 52 | 12:45 am Saturday, Mangsir 24, 2079 |
| Match 60 | Winner 55 vs. Winner 56 | 8:45 pm Saturday, Mangsir 24, 2079 |
Semi-Finals:
| Match No. | Fixtures | Nepali Date & Time |
| Match 61 | Winner 57 vs. Winner 58 | 12:45 am Tuesday, Mangsir 27, 2079 |
| Match 62 | Winner 59 vs. Winner 60 | 12:45 am Wednesday, Mangsir 28, 2079 |
Play-off for Third Place:
| Match No. | Fixture | Nepali Time |
| Match 63 | Runner Up 61 vs. Runner Up 62 | 8:45 pm Saturday, Poush 2, 2079 |
Football World Cup 2022 Final:
| Match No. | Fixture | Nepali Date & Time |
| Match 64 | Winner 61 vs. Winner 62 | 8:45 pm Sunday, Poush 3, 2079 |
The final match will be played at Lusail Stadium which will accommodate 80 thousand Football fans.
Which team has your bet on for the FIFA World Cup 2022 trophy? Do share in the comments below.
