Bangladesh face a do-or-die scenario in their bid to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, with only the group winner advancing to the prestigious continental tournament. The stakes are high, and while Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Tabith Awal recently expressed confidence that the team, featuring star player Hamza Choudhury, will top their group, head coach Javier Cabrera offered a more measured assessment.
Speaking at a press conference in a Dhaka hotel ahead of today’s crucial qualifier against Singapore, Cabrera refrained from making bold predictions. Bangladesh earned a point from their opening match against India, which ended in a goalless draw, and now face a must-win encounter at the National Stadium.
In preparation, Bangladesh played a friendly against Bhutan on 4 June, securing a morale-boosting victory. Singapore, meanwhile, come into the fixture on the back of a win over the Maldives. Despite limited time to prepare, Cabrera expressed satisfaction with the team’s readiness.
“Our preparation has been good, even though time was short. The win against Bhutan boosted our confidence. Now, we’re ready for the real challenge, and everyone is eager to take it on,” said Cabrera.
The 19th edition of the AFC Asian Cup will take place in Saudi Arabia in January 2027, featuring 24 teams. Bangladesh are determined to be among them, but Cabrera acknowledges the difficulty of the task.
“Right now, our focus is on the Singapore match. Qualifying for the Asian Cup is extremely challenging because only the group winners go through. We played well against India, but we still need to improve in a few areas. We’re working on those aspects so we can perform better and hopefully secure all three points,” he said.
Group C of the third round of qualifiers has become tightly contested, with all four teams—Bangladesh, India, Hong Kong, and Singapore—level on one point after the opening round. That has set the stage for a fiercely competitive group, where every match could prove decisive.
“I believe tomorrow’s match will be highly competitive,” Cabrera added. “Singapore will be coming for the win, just like we are. At this stage, every game is like a final. All four teams have the same goal: to reach the main tournament. That’s why each match will be fiercely fought.”
Bangladesh are also yet to finalise their squad. From the 26-man preliminary list announced before the Bhutan friendly, three players will need to be cut. However, sources suggest that overseas-based players Hamza and Shamit Shome are likely to be in the starting XI.
Speaking about Shome, a midfielder for Canadian club Cavalry FC, Cabrera praised the player’s seamless integration: “He has adapted quickly in terms of technique, tactical understanding, and overall strategy.”
With everything to play for, Bangladesh’s road to the AFC Asian Cup promises high drama—and even higher stakes.