Bangladesh women’s football team will face North Korea, South Korea and Myanmar in Group F of the 2026 Asian Games after Thursday’s draw in Nagoya, Japan, handing Ritu Porna Chakma, Mosammat Sagorika and their teammates one of the toughest routes to the knockout stage.
The women’s football tournament at the 20th Asian Games will feature 12 teams divided into three groups. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed sides, will progress to the quarter-finals.
Bangladesh will make only their second appearance in the Asian Games women’s football competition, but they have landed in arguably the tournament’s toughest group.
Three-time gold medallists North Korea are the biggest obstacle. One of Asia’s most successful women’s football nations, they enter the tournament as one of the favourites to challenge for another title.
South Korea also boast an impressive record. They have competed in the women’s football event 10 times and won three bronze medals, making them another formidable opponent for Bangladesh.
The group’s remaining side, Myanmar, have a similar Asian Games history to Bangladesh. They have appeared only once before and also failed to progress beyond the group stage.
Bangladesh’s only previous appearance came at the delayed 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, where they exited in the group phase after drawing one match and losing two. The side suffered heavy defeats against Japan and Vietnam before salvaging a 1-1 draw with Nepal in their final fixture.
Since then, however, Bangladesh have enjoyed significant progress on the international stage, highlighted by qualification for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup for the first time in the country’s history.
The upcoming Asian Games will provide Bangladesh with another opportunity to test their progress against Asia’s elite after a challenging draw. .
The other groups see hosts Japan, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam and Thailand in Group E, while China, the Philippines, Uzbekistan and Hong Kong make up Group G.
