The Bangladesh Football Federation’s (BFF) Development Committee has set out plans to participate in four international age-group events in 2026 while also introducing monthly grassroots programmes and expanding the Academy Cup, committee chairman Nasser Shahrear Zahedee has said.
The decisions were taken at the sixth meeting of the BFF Development Committee, held on Sunday, where preparations for age-group competitions, player development pipelines and grassroots football were discussed.
Bangladesh will compete in four age-based international tournaments next year. These include the SAFF Under-20 Championship in Maldives from 23 Mar to 3 Apr, followed by the AFC Under-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers from 29 Aug to 6 Sep. Two Under-17 events are also scheduled: the SAFF Under-17 Championship and the Under-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers in November.
“In 2026, we will participate in four international events. From 23 Mar to 3 Apr, the SAFF Under-20 Championship will be held in Maldives. Then, from 29 Aug to 6 Sep, there will be the AFC Under-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers. There are also two Under-17 events: the SAFF Under-17 Championship and the Under-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers in November. We are preparing for these four events.”
A key focus of the meeting was the creation of a structured pipeline to ensure a steady supply of players for the national team across multiple age groups.
“The most important issue we discussed is building a pipeline. It will be age-based, such as Under-15, Under-17, Under-19 and Under-20. We will train them as much as possible and ensure regular practice, so that within three to four years we can build a strong national team. The role of our Development Committee is to create a strong pipeline for the improvement of the national team. Accordingly, we have started working on a roadmap.”
Alongside elite pathways, the BFF has also decided to organise grassroots football events every month throughout 2026 to engage and inspire young players nationwide.
“We have decided to organise an event every month in 2026 for budding footballers. These programmes may include football clinics, football festivals and other initiatives aimed at motivating young players at the grassroots.”
The federation also plans to place greater emphasis on school football, working closely with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, with a final decision expected at an upcoming executive committee meeting.
The Development Committee further discussed expanding the BFF Academy Cup. Last year’s tournament featured 168 academies with financial support from FIFA’s Technical Development Scheme. In 2026, the Academy Cup is set to include around 300 academies and will be held for both boys and girls, including an Under-14 category.
Zahedee also confirmed plans to organise age-group women’s tournaments, which will be overseen by the BFF Women’s Wing with support from the Development Committee.
