Bangladesh will host Afghanistan in a friendly match at the National Stadium in Dhaka as part of their preparation for November’s AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers home fixture against India. The friendly will take place during the FIFA international window, which runs from 12 to 18 November.
The fixture is designed to give Bangladesh valuable match practice before their Group C qualifier against long-time rivals India, also scheduled for 18 November at the same venue. Both sides have already been eliminated from the qualification race, but the match remains an important test of pride and progress for the hosts.
According to the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), the friendly against Afghanistan will serve as an opportunity for head coach Javier Cabrera to fine-tune his squad’s tactics and assess player fitness ahead of the high-profile encounter with India, even though both teams are already out of the competition. The federation has yet to finalise the date and kickoff time for the friendly, as BFF Vice President Fahad Karim and General Secretary Emran Hossain did not respond regarding the schedule.
The upcoming period will mark a busy November window for Bangladesh football, as the country is also set to host the AFC-approved Group C fixture between Afghanistan and Myanmar at the Bashundhara Kings Arena.
With two international matches scheduled in Dhaka within the same week, local fans will have a rare chance to see back-to-back international action on home soil. The BFF hopes that these matches will not only help the team’s preparation but also boost the football atmosphere in the capital.
