The Bangladesh women鈥檚 football team is set to face a formidable challenge at the AFC Women鈥檚 Asian Cup 2026, having qualified for the showpiece continental event for the first time in Myanmar.
The South Asian nation earned their maiden berth in the 12-team tournament by topping Group C of the qualifiers, with victories over Turkmenistan (7-0), Bahrain (7-0), and hosts Myanmar (2-1).
Following such a feat, the women鈥檚 team will now have to shift their focus to prove themselves against the elites of Asian football.
Bangladesh, ranked 128th in the current FIFA rankings, now joins Asian powerhouses such as defending champions Japan (7), hosts Australia (15th) and China (17), all of whom boast long-established records in the competition.
The tournament is scheduled to be held across three Australian cities鈥擲ydney, Perth and Gold Coast鈥攆rom March 1 to 21, 2026.
Eleven teams have already secured their spots in the final round: Bangladesh, North Korea, Chinese Taipei, the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Uzbekistan, China, South Korea, Japan, and Australia.
One more team will qualify from Group A of the qualifiers, which includes hosts Jordan, Bhutan, Iran, Singapore, and Lebanon.
The draw for the tournament is scheduled to be held at the Sydney Town Hall on July 29.
English coach Peter Butler鈥檚 team is eager to advance in a tournament that will also act as the qualifying event for two major global competitions鈥攖he 2027 FIFA Women鈥檚 World Cup in Brazil and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
In Australia, the two-time SAFF Women鈥檚 Championship (2022, 2024) winners, Bangladesh will have to advance to the quarter-finals to see them in the 2028 Olympics, while they have to secure one of the top six spots to ensure their berth in the 2027 FIFA Women鈥檚 World Cup.
However, the real test would be how far the women鈥檚 team can go against the tournament heavyweights like China, who have won the title a record nine times and will make their 16th appearance.
While Japan, twice champions, return for their 18th campaign and Australia, the 2010 winners, enter for the seventh time.
North Korea and Chinese Taipei鈥攅ach with three titles鈥攚ill make their 11th and 15th appearances, respectively.
South Korea, Vietnam, India, the Philippines, and Uzbekistan all come with more established tournament credentials than Bangladesh.
Despite the odds, Bangladesh Football Federation president Tabith Awal remained optimistic and vowed to provide full support to the team.
鈥榃e will provide all the necessary support, experience, and expertise to help our team,鈥� he said during a reception upon the Bangladesh team鈥檚 return to the country from Myanmar on Monday.
鈥榃e have one commitment, one slogan, one tagline: Mission Australia.鈥�
