Since making their international debut in 2009, the Bangladesh women’s football team has never played against Bahrain until now. The two teams are set to meet for the first time in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, where they have been placed in the same group.
Bangladesh is competing in the qualifiers being hosted in Myanmar. Alongside Bahrain and the hosts, Turkmenistan is also in the group. The red-and-green girls, led by captain Afida Khandaker, will kick off their campaign on Sunday at 6:30 PM (local time) with a match against Bahrain.
This is Bangladesh’s third appearance in the Asian Cup qualifiers. In their previous two campaigns, they lost all five matches. However, this time they enter the competition as two-time SAFF champions and the top team in South Asia.
Recently, they drew against strong sides Jordan and Indonesia in a tri-nation tournament in Jordan—results that have boosted their confidence.
At the pre-match press conference, head coach Peter Butler described the team as a balanced mix of youth and experience, ready to aim higher. Captain Afida emphasized steady improvement and said past matches will positively influence their performance.
If Bangladesh tops the group, they will qualify for the final round in Australia next year.
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FAQ
1. Has Bangladesh ever played against Bahrain before?
No, this is the first-ever meeting between the Bangladesh women’s team and Bahrain since international debut in 2009. They face each other in the group stage of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers.
2. What is Bangladesh’s past record in Asian Cup qualifiers?
BD has previously participated in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers twice but failed to win or draw any match. They lost all five games across those two campaigns.
3. What are the expectations from the current team?
Led by captain Afida Khandaker and coached by Peter Butler, the team enters the qualifiers as two-time SAFF champions. With recent draws against strong sides like Jordan and Indonesia, expectations are high that Bangladesh can perform better this time and possibly qualify for the final round in Australia.