Bangladesh football is preparing for a revival as the long-awaited National Football Championship returns after three years. Organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports as part of the “Festival of Youth 2025,” the competition aims to inject fresh energy into the game and reconnect fans with district-based football. The official logo was unveiled at the BFF House in Dhaka, where the organisers confirmed the event’s details.
The championship will kick off on 30 August with Munshiganj facing Madaripur in the opening match at the Munshiganj Stadium. Sports adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan will attend as chief guest. The final is scheduled for 24 or 25 November at the National Stadium in Dhaka. Organisers are hopeful that Sheikh Salman, president of the Asian Football Confederation, will be present at the finale during his Bangladesh visit.
In total, 64 districts will take part in the tournament, divided into eight zones. Teams will compete on a home-and-away basis, with 32 advancing from the first round, 16 from the second, and the rest decided through a knockout stage. Altogether 112 matches will be played, offering fans across the country a chance to reconnect with their local teams.
Challenges remain, particularly with stadium conditions in several districts affected by the rainy season. National Sports Council secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam confirmed that instructions have been given to deputy commissioners to ensure fields can be used. He expressed confidence that no district would face major obstacles in hosting matches.
The government has allocated 200 million taka for the “Festival of Youth,” with half of that dedicated to football. Of this amount, 100 million taka has been handed to the Bangladesh Football Federation to organise the men’s championship, the under-17 competition and women’s age-level tournaments.
BFF vice-president and chairman of the organising committee, Wahid Uddin Chowdhury Happy, expressed optimism. He said the championship would help discover new talent and provide a platform for football to grow again. “We are not looking back at past issues. A new committee is taking fresh steps with government support, and we believe this championship will deliver future stars,” he said.
Concerns about transparency have surrounded football finances in the past, but the current committee has promised accountability. A separate bank account will be created for all football-related income and expenditure to ensure proper monitoring.
The return of the National Football Championship is more than just a tournament. For many districts where leagues have been inactive for years, it represents a new beginning, a chance to dream again, and perhaps the birth of the next generation of Bangladeshi football heroes.