Nepal Premier League 2026: Three Teams Vie for Two Playoff Spots

As the group stage of the tournament nears its conclusion, three contenders remain in contention for two available positions in the next round. The final standings depend on upcoming fixtures, including a scheduled encounter between Biratnagar and Lumbini alongside a match pairing Chitwan against Karnali on Sunday. Weather disruptions or shared points from washouts could alter the arithmetic for qualification, bringing net run rates into crucial consideration for the teams sitting on equal points. If Biratnagar secures a victory over Lumbini to reach eight points, and the fixture between Chitwan and Karnali is abandoned with points shared, Chitwan would likewise finish on eight points with a specific run rate of 0.261. Under such circumstances, a subsequent victory by Kathmandu over Pokhara would leave Chitwan and Biratnagar to battle for the fourth position based purely on their net run rates. Alternatively, should Kathmandu fall to Pokhara, three separate teams would finish level on eight points. In the event of a three-way tie at eight points between Kathmandu, Chitwan, and Biratnagar, the two franchises possessing superior net run rates will progress to the playoffs. Conversely, a victory by Chitwan in their match would complicate the arithmetic significantly for Biratnagar. In that scenario, Biratnagar would require an exceptional victory over Lumbini combined with a substantial defeat of Kathmandu by Pokhara to overturn the deficit and sneak into the qualification bracket.