Largest Nepali soccer tournament in Canada brings community together in Edmonton
Posted May 17, 2026 11:05 am.
Twenty-two teams from across Canada gathered at Edmonton’s Mill Woods Sports Park this weekend for what organizers say is the country’s largest Nepali soccer tournament, an event that continues to grow alongside Edmonton’s expanding Nepali community.
More than 400 players of different ages took part in the Gorkha Cup, a tournament that organizers say has become about more than just soccer, serving as a way to connect culture, heritage and community.
“We have always wanted to be part of this because we’ve been playing soccer for a long time, and we were looking for an opportunity,” said Sam Poudyal, a three-year Gorkha Cup player.
Poudyal said the tournament has helped create a sense of belonging for Nepalis living thousands of kilometres from home.
“It brings people together on one platform and in the interaction. You see people from different categories, different reasons, and you get to know them, and it brings a sense of community solidarity,” said Poudyal.
“Obviously, you know my brothers are growing and … it makes me feel good,” said Ruskin Luitel, a two-year Gorkha Cup player.
Luitel said he struggled to find a community connected to his heritage when he first arrived in Edmonton as a child.
“In the beginning, there weren’t many Napoli families in Edmonton itself, and I guess as the years went on, the community grew, and thanks to the community growing, we have events like these,” said Luitel.
Organizer Avash Timsina said the tournament started with just four teams a decade ago and has since expanded more than five times in size as more Nepali families settle in Canada.
“The community has grown so much, and that kind of translates to folks coming into sports, community and sports is such a thing that brings people together across the border and across the line,” said Avash Timsina, president of the Himalaya-Rocky Sports Club.
The tournament, named after the late Dr. AI Gurung, was created to promote unity through sports. Organizers say they hope the Edmonton-based competition will continue to grow as the largest Nepali soccer tournament in Canada.
