The Bangladesh Under-20 women’s football team returned home in the early hours today after securing a historic first-ever qualification for the AFC Women’s U-20 Asia Cup. They booked their spot in next year’s finals in Thailand as one of the three best runners-up from eight qualifying groups.
This milestone follows the senior national team’s maiden qualification for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 and marks a significant step forward from regional SAFF dominance to the wider Asian stage. The Under-20 side’s performance in Myanmar during June and July also saw them rise from 128th to 104th in the latest FIFA rankings, registering the largest jump by any nation.
Despite this success, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) women’s wing chairman Mahfuza Akhter Kiron expressed concerns over the lack of basic infrastructure. Speaking at the BFF House yesterday, Kiron questioned expectations placed on players who lack access to proper training facilities.
“I worked with FIFA and AFC and football federations are run by government funds all over the world, but we run with sponsors’ money in Bangladesh,” she said. “We should have a training centre where female players can stay comfortably, with access to a gym, swimming pool and training grounds.”
“The girls don’t have a ground to practise properly, so how can we expect something good from them?” she asked. “Despite the shortage, we have been trying to improve the country’s women’s football with our own efforts, and the girls are fighting on the ground on the back of their confidence and our motivation.”
Kiron urged the government to step in and provide further support, adding, “We have been trying our level best and seek the government support for the rest. We hope the government will also support us.”
The former FIFA Council member also revealed that discussions are underway for a one-month training camp in Japan. Both the senior team and the Under-20 team are expected to continue training together. Talks are also ongoing with Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines for potential friendly matches during upcoming FIFA windows.