Bangladesh have been invited to take part in a four-nation international tournament to celebrate 75 years of football in the Maldives, the Bangladesh Football Federation has confirmed.
BFF general secretary Imran Hossain Tushar said the invitation had been formally received from the Football Association of Maldives, which is planning to stage the tournament in June or July this year. Bangladesh have yet to confirm their participation and are expected to communicate a decision at a later date.
Alongside hosts Maldives, the tournament is set to feature teams from South Asia. Sri Lanka and Nepal have both been invited, with Sri Lanka already giving their consent to take part.
The event is being planned as a major celebration of Maldivian football history. In 1950, football in the country came under a distinct governing body, and the 75-year milestone has prompted a series of commemorative activities.
Earlier this year, a special football festival was held at the Maldives National Stadium, where the tournament logo was unveiled in the presence of FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The Maldives previously marked a similar occasion in 2000, when they hosted a golden jubilee tournament. Sri Lanka won that competition after defeating the hosts in the final. Bangladesh also took part, playing three matches, drawing two and losing one.
For Bangladesh, the invitation offers a potential opportunity for international exposure later this year, though the federation has yet to decide whether the tournament will fit into its wider national team plans.
