The opening phase of the National Championship, the biggest stage for Bangladesh’s young footballers, is nearing its conclusion. The first round has been held as part of the nationwide programme “Festival of Youth 2025,” and the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) held a press conference on 16 September to share the progress.
BFF executive committee member Shakhawat Hossain Bhuiya (Shahin) confirmed that the first phase will conclude once the matches on 17 September are completed. From the 64 participating districts, 32 teams will be selected for the second round. “Because so many matches are being played at the same time in different districts, it has been a little challenging to gather all the information. That is why we are giving updates through press conferences after each stage,” Shahin explained.
The first stage has been played on a home-and-away basis. The schedule for the second round will be announced on 18 September. While some districts have organised games on a smaller scale and others are still in the process of forming full committees, Shahin said the organisers are pleased to have completed the opening phase successfully.
One unpleasant incident did emerge during this stage. A referee was attacked and injured during a match. “We will sit with the referees on this matter. The match report is now in our hands, and we will investigate quickly before taking the necessary action,” Shahin stated.
According to the structure of the tournament, 32 teams will advance into the second round and then be reduced to 16. Step by step, the competition will move towards the final, which will be held on 24 November at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka. Shahin revealed that the AFC President is also expected to attend the final.
Shahin is optimistic about the young talents on display. “Only one match has been completed so far, so it is too early to mention specific names. But we are confident that some of the players from here will represent the national team in the future. It is not only the BFF who are watching, but the clubs are keeping an eye as well.”
Financial support is also being extended to the district teams. Shahin confirmed that each team has already been given 60,000 taka, along with an additional 15,000 taka for travel. To further motivate the players, the organisers have also introduced a reward of 10,000 taka for every Man of the Match.
When asked about the overall expenditure of the competition, Shahin admitted that he did not have the details to hand. “The people responsible for financial matters will be able to provide the figures,” he said.
With the first stage almost complete, attention now turns to the next round. The young footballers are giving everything on the pitch, and the federation is hopeful of uncovering the next generation of stars.
