Bangladesh claimed their first-ever international futsal victory, defeating Bhutan 4–1 in the SAFF men’s and women’s futsal tournament in Bangkok, Thailand.
The men’s team faced their third match of the tournament under pressure but produced a composed performance to register a historic result. Earlier, the women’s team, led by Sabina Khatun, had played out a 3–3 draw against Bhutan on Saturday.
Bangladesh dominated the first half, taking a 2–0 lead thanks to a brace from Moin. After the interval, Bhutan scored a goal to attempt a comeback, with one of their attacks striking the post. However, Bangladesh maintained control as Faisal extended the lead to 3–1, and Ibrahim sealed the 4–1 win, marking a landmark achievement for the team.
The victory came amid internal disruption, with vice-captain Intishar Mostafa being dropped from the squad ahead of the match. Despite the mid-tournament changes, the players responded admirably, overcoming the challenge to deliver a strong performance on the court.
Bangladesh’s journey in international futsal began last year at the AFC Futsal Championship in Malaysia, where they did not win a single match. Their early SAFF campaign also started without a victory, drawing against India and losing to the Maldives. The win against Bhutan ended that run and provided a significant boost to the team’s morale.
The SAFF futsal tournament features six nations in both the men’s and women’s competitions. After three matches, Bangladesh’s men’s team have one win, one draw, and one defeat, while the women’s team have one win and one draw. The team finishing top of the table after five matches will be crowned champions. Bangladesh’s women’s team will face Nepal in their next match on Sunday.
