Published: 10:58 AM, 29 August 2026
BD to face Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore
Bangladesh is set to play the upcoming FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, scheduled in Indonesia later this year. The South Asian side becomes the second team invited for the tournament, alongside Pakistan, and will be drawn with Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore in Group A.
The Group B comprises Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Pakistan.
The inaugural edition of the ASEAN Cup will be played in the September-October interntional friendly window, and will have two divisions: Premier edition and Challenger edition. Bangladesh will play in the Premier division, scheduled between September 24 and October 5.
Every team will play each other once in the group stage, with the table-topper reaching the final.
"We had applied to FIFA to participate in the tournament. Last night (Friday), we received a positive response, and then we also sent our confirmation," Amirul Islam Babu, BFF media committee chairman, told reporters following an executive committee meeting.
The development comes after India withdrew from the tournament due to a clash in its schedule. In the same window, the Blue Tigers will play three friendlies, against Panama, Brazil and Uruguay - facing teams which most recently competed at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Both India and Bangladesh will be quite busy in September-October for the international window that follows will see them compete for the SAFF Championship. India will enter the tournament as the defending champion, while Bangladesh is expected to host the contest.
According to reports from Bangladesh, coach Thomas Dooly named a 28-member preliminary squad for the ASEAN Cup, excluding foreign-based players HamzaChoudhury, ShamitShome, Zayyan Ahmed, Fahamedul Islam, and Tariq Kazi, who could be called in later.
The preliminary squad will undergo a three-week training camp, following which Dooly will name the final squad for the tournament.
Bangladesh's preliminary squad:
MitulMarma, SujonHossain, Mehdi HasanSrabon, AnisurRahmanZico, Topu Barman, ShakilAhadTopu, BishwanathGhosh, SaadUddin, TajUddin, Rahmat Mia, Abdulla Omar, SakilHossain, Isa Faysal, JalamBhuyan, SohelRana, MdSohelRana, MdRidoy, ShekhMorsalin, Syed Quazem Shah, RakibHossain, ShahriarEmon, Foysal Ahmed Fahim, MonjururRahman, MinhazulKarimShadin, Rafiqul Islam, Mohammad Ibrahim, SouravDewan, RabbyHossain Rahul.
>>Agencies
