Bangladesh will play two international friendlies against Nepal during the upcoming FIFA window in September, after efforts to secure opponents from Europe proved unsuccessful. The All Nepal Football Association confirmed the fixtures on 7 July through an official statement, announcing that the matches will take place on 6 and 9 September at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu.
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) had initially aimed to arrange friendlies against European nations in September. However, with most UEFA and AFC teams committed to World Cup qualifiers or other fixtures, BFF was forced to explore options within Asia. Discussions were held with several countries, including Sri Lanka and Nepal. While Sri Lanka opted to play Bhutan in Colombo, Nepal expressed interest in hosting Bangladesh — an offer BFF eventually accepted. Although the Nepalese federation has made an official announcement, BFF is yet to confirm the fixtures publicly.
These matches will serve as preparation for Bangladesh’s next competitive fixture — a crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong on 9 October in Dhaka. Hong Kong are currently ranked 153rd in the FIFA world rankings, while Nepal, Bangladesh’s friendly opponent, sit 173rd. That has raised questions about whether such a low-intensity fixture will truly prepare the men’s team for the challenges ahead.
Critics have long pointed to head coach Javier Cabrera’s pattern of selecting South Asian sides for friendlies. Before playing Singapore on 10 June in Dhaka, Bangladesh hosted Bhutan — a match they won 2-0. Despite the win bringing short-lived satisfaction to BFF officials, the 2-0 defeat against Singapore exposed the gap in quality between Bangladesh and more competitive teams.
The contrast with the Bangladesh women’s team is stark. Ranked 128th, the women’s side played stronger opponents such as Jordan and Indonesia — ranked 30 to 50 places higher — ahead of their Asian Cup qualifying campaign. That paid off handsomely, as they went on to beat both Bahrain and Myanmar, who were significantly ahead of them in the rankings.
While the women’s team continues to challenge themselves against superior opposition, the men’s side remains in a loop of matches against fellow South Asian countries like Maldives, Bhutan, and Nepal.