Bangladesh women's national football team

The Bangladesh women's national football team is the women's national association football team of Bangladesh controlled by the Bangladesh Football Federation under the supervision of the women's football committee. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation.

Bangladesh won the SAFF Women's Championship in 2022 and 2024. They also secured a bronze medal in the South Asian Federation Games 2010 and a silver medal at the SAFF Women's Championship 2016.

History Origins (2007–2012) Women's football was introduced in Bangladesh when the nation's first-ever football tournament dedicated to women was staged under the Vision Asia programme in November 2007. Eight teams from different districts all over the country took part in the tournament. The tournament's success, led to the Bangladesh Football Federation organizing the 2008 Women's school football tournament, under the Vision Bangladesh programme. The National Football Championship for women was introduced the subsequent year for different district teams to take part in. While in 2009, Golam Robbani Choton, a veteran in the Dhaka football scene, was put in charge of the inactive women's national team. However, the Bangladesh women's team was continuously neglected throughout the late 2000s.

Bangladesh played their first international game on 29 January 2010 against Nepal, during the 2010 South Asian Games, held in Dhaka, losing 1–0. The team impressed in the following fixtures, pulling off two successive victories against Sri Lanka and then Pakistan, respectively. Although they suffered a 0–7 defeat at the hands of India during their last group stage game, Bangladesh secured the bronze medal. The team proceeded to take part in the 2010 SAFF Women's Championship later on that year, which was played on home soil, but this time in Cox's Bazar. They won significantly against Bhutan and Sri Lanka (2–0 and 9–0); however they were defeated by Nepal in the semifinals.

It was in 2011 when the football federation decided to launch the Bangladesh Women's Football League. The national team was active the following year, taking part in the 2012 SAFF Championship. They lost to India and Sri Lanka, attaining their sole victory against Bhutan, 1–0, thanks to a goal from captain Pru Suinu. Nonetheless, the team failed to advance past the group stages.

Emergence (2013–2020) After the 2012 SAFF Women's Championship, BFF started to make a structure for the women's team. On the other hand, the government started the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Gold Cup Football Tournament in 2011, where a number of footballers from all over the country showcased their football playing skill on a yearly basis, strengthening the national team's pipeline of talents. In October 2014, Norio Tsukitate was appointed as the team's first foreign head coach. Bangladesh team management started an almost year-long camp for the 2014 SAFF Women's Championship, and the Bangladesh team won two of their three group matches and reached the semi-finals, where Bangladesh lost against Nepal by 1–0. After the tournament concluded, Golam Robbani Choton returned to head coach duty.

In the 2016 SAFF Women's Championship, Bangladesh reached the final having defeated Maldives 6–0 in the semi-final. Nonetheless, the inexperienced team lost 3–1 to India in the final. The team's fortunes at the 2019 SAFF Women's Championship did not change, as they lost to India by a margin of 4–0 in the semi-final.

Golden era (2021–present)

Bangladesh did not make it to the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification. But, after that, Bangladesh played three FIFA friendly matches, one against Hong Kong, where they beat Hong Kong by 5–0 in 2021, and two against Malaysia, where they drew one and won one by 6–0 before the 2022 SAFF Women's Championship.

Bangladesh won all three group matches, defeating Maldives by 3–0, Pakistan by 6–0, and India by 3–0, and reached the semi-finals as unbeaten group champion. In the semi-finals, having defeated Bhutan by 8–0 and they reached the final. Bangladesh faced Nepal in the final, where Bangladesh clinched their maiden SAFF Women's Championship title with a 3–1 victory over Nepal in an entertaining final at the Dasharath Rangasala in Kathmandu on 19 September 2022.

Peter James Butler became Bangladesh's head coach in March 2024. Bangladesh won their second consecutive title at the 2024 SAFF Women's Championship, defeating Nepal 2–1 in the final.

However, since the 2024 tournament, relations between some players and Butler worsened. In February 2025, a group of players led by Sabina Khatun boycotted a training camp, demanding Butler's resignation. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) intervened and offered new contracts to players of the national team. The dispute was resolved by late March 2025.

In June–July 2025, Bangladesh took part in the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers. The team secured qualification for the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup, their first ever for the continental tournament.

Team image

Colours The Bangladesh national football team plays in bottle green shirts and dark red shorts, with the away kit as the opposite. These national colours of Bangladesh are also represented on the Flag of Bangladesh.

Home stadium

The Bangladesh women's national team plays their home matches at the National Stadium, Dhaka, and Bir Sherestha Shaheed Shipahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium.

Media coverage Bangladesh's both home and away matches are broadcast live on Bangladesh Television and T Sports.

Rivalries

India Bangladesh has developed a competitive and closely watched regional rivalry with India, especially in the context of the SAFF Women's Championship. For much of the 2010s, India maintained dominance in the fixture, defeating Bangladesh in the final of the 2016 SAFF Championship and again in the semi-final of the 2019 edition. However, a turning point came during the 2022 SAFF Women's Championship, when Bangladesh defeated India 3–0 in the group stage—marking their first-ever victory over India in senior women's football and ending India's 24-match unbeaten streak in the SAFF competition since its inception in 2010. Bangladesh went on to win the 2022 SAFF title, defeating Nepal 3–1 in the final, becoming champions for the first time. This rivalry has paralleled the rapid rise of Bangladesh's women's football team. While India still leads in overall head-to-head results, Bangladesh's growing competitiveness and historic 2022 win have made this rivalry one of the most anticipated fixtures in South Asian women's football.

Nepal The rivalry between Bangladesh and Nepal has grown steadily over the past decade, fueled by encounters in the knockout stages of the SAFF Women's Championship. While Nepal traditionally held the upper hand in earlier meetings, the balance of power has gradually shifted. The defining moment in the rivalry came in 2022, when Bangladesh defeated Nepal 3–1 in the final held in Kathmandu, capturing their first SAFF Women's Championship title and spoiling Nepal's hopes of a historic win on home soil. The match was widely seen as a turning point for Bangladeshi women's football, showcasing a fast, pressing style and a new generation of confident players nurtured through the country's youth development programs.

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

2025

2026

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

PositionName Head coach Peter James Butler Team manager Khalid Mahmud NowmeeAssistant coach Abul Hossain Lina Chakma Goalkeeping coach Masud Ahamad Strength & conditioning coach Cameron Nicholas Lord Media manager Md Saeed Hasan Physiotherapist Jannatul Ferdous Konok Video analyst Mo Mehedi Hasan Siddiqui Photographer & videographer Anisur Rahman Team attendant Md Rashibul Hossen

Manager history Golam Robbani (2009–2014) Norio Tsukitate (2014) Golam Robbani (2015–2023) Saiful Bari Titu (2023–2024) Peter James Butler (2024–Present)

Players

Current squad The following players were called up for the final squad for the 2026 Asian Games in September 2026.

Caps and goals updated as of 1 September 2026.

Recent call-ups The following players have been called up for the team in the last 12 months.

INJ Withdrew due to injury PRE Preliminary squad SUS Suspended RET Retired

Captains Trishna Chakma (2009–2012) Suinu Pru Marma (2012–2014) Aungmraching Marma (2014–2015) Sabina Khatun (2015–2024) Afeida Khandaker (2025–2026) Maria Manda (2026–Present)

Records

*Players in bold are still active with Bangladesh.

Most capped players Rank Name Caps Goals Position Career 1 Sabina Khatun 61 38 FW 2009–2024 2 Shamsunnahar 54 0 DF 2016– 3 Maria Manda 53 1 MF 2016–4 Sheuli Azim 51 1 DF 2014– 5 Monika Chakma 45 4 MF 2019– 6 Masura Parvin 44 3 DF 2014–2024 7 Ritu Porna Chakma 42 15 FW 2021– 8 Tohura Khatun 40 15 FW 2018–9 Rupna Chakma 39 0 GK 2019– 10 Shamsunnahar Jr. 38 8 FW 2021–

Top goalscorers RankPlayerGoalsCapsRatioCareer1Sabina Khatun38612009–20242Tohura Khatun15402018–3Ritu Porna Chakma15422021–4Krishna Rani Sarkar11332014–20245Sirat Jahan Shopna10252014–20226Shamsunnahar Jr.8382020–7Aungmraching Marma5192009–2015Suinu Pru Marma5202009–20149Mst. Sagorika5172024–Afeida Khandaker4322023–Monika Chakma4452019–

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

FIFA Women's World Cup recordQualification recordYearResult 1991 to 2011Did not existDid not exist 2015Did not qualifyVia AFC Women's Asian Cup 2019Did not enterDid not enter 2023Did not qualifyVia AFC Women's Asian Cup 2027To be determined 2031To be determined 2035Total0/9––––––––––––––

Olympic Games Summer Olympics recordQualification recordYearRound 1996 to 2008Did not existDid not exist 2012Did not qualify200206−6 2016Did not enter 2020Did not qualify3012213−11 2024Withdrew from qualificationWithdrew 2028To be determinedTo be determined 2032Total0/8–––––––5014219−18

*Denotes draws includes knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

AFC Women's Asian Cup

AFC Women's Asian Cup recordQualification recordYearResult 1975 to 2010Did not existDid not exist 2014Did not qualify3003015−15 2018Did not enterDid not enter 2022Did not qualify2002010−10 2026Group stage3003011−113300161+15 2029To be determinedTo be determinedTotal:1/21Group stage3003011-1183051626−10

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Asian Games

Asian Games recordYearResultPositionGPWD*LGFGAGD 1990 to 2006Did not exist 2010Did not enter 2014 2018 2022Group stage12th3012215−13 2026Group stage11th3012016−16 2030To be determined 2034Total2/2011th6015231−29

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

SAFF Women's Championship

SAFF Women's Championship recordsHostYearResultGPWD*LGFGAGD 2010Semi-final4202119+2 2012Group stage310225−3 2014Semi-final4202108+2 2016Runners-up4211133+10 2019Semi-final310227−5 2022Champion5500231+22 2024Champion4310113+7 2026Runners-up420278−1Total8/831182117945+34

*Draws include knock-out matches decided on penalty kicks.

South Asian Games South Asian Games recordYearResultGPWD*LGFGAGD 2010Bronze medal 4202 3 8 –5 2016Bronze medal 4202 5 9 –4Total2/28404817−9

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Head-to-head record

Against Region %WinAFCUEFAAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCAFCTotal 25 nations

Source: Results

Honours

Regional SAFF Women's Championship Champion: 2022, 2024 Runner-up: 2016, 2026

National Ekushey Padak: 2025

Bangladesh women's national football team

Bron en licentie