‘Messi and Ronaldo are like God!’: Bharat Khawas

Palestinians Mousa M H Abujazar (L), Sulaiman A Z Obaid (R) and Nepali Bharat Khawas (C) tussle for the ball during their AFC Challenge cup Qualification 2014 football match in Kathmandu on March 6, 2013. Source: Getty / PRAKASH MATHEMA/AFP

Bharat Khawas has represented the Nepali men's national team in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, including the game against Jordan in 2011. While Nepal suffered a heavy 9–0 defeat away in Jordan, the team held one of Asia's football powerhouses to a 1–1 draw in the return leg at home, with Khawas scoring Nepal's goal. The 34-year-old forward has been with Tribhuvan Army Club since 2012, among other clubs. As the FIFA World Cup 2026™ takes centre stage, our Nepal correspondent Pratichya Dulal spoke with Khawas about football's biggest tournament.

---

Disclaimer: We would like to inform you that the views expressed in this conversation are solely those of the speaker, and SBS neither endorses nor opposes these views.

Stream all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ live and free on SBS On Demand, with full replays, mini matches and highlights available throughout the tournament.  Visit: https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/fifa-world-cup-2026 

Subscribe to the SBS Nepali podcast here.

You can listen to SBS Nepali’s live broadcast every Tuesday and Thursday at 2 pm AEST via SBS South Asian on digital radio, on television channel 305, through the SBS Audio app, on SBS On Demand, or via our website.

You can also follow SBS Nepali on social media: Facebook, Instagram and X (@SBS Nepali)