AFC Women's Asian Cup
Having steadily built momentum over the past few years, head coach Peter Butler has made it clear that his young squad will not be at Australia 2026 just to make up the numbers.
Factfile
FIFA Ranking: 112
Previous appearances: Debutants
How they qualified: Group C winners
Group B fixtures: March 3: v China PR; March 6: v DPR Korea; March 9: v Uzbekistan
Fun fact: Bangladesh netted an impressive 16 goals and conceded only once in the Qualifiers
FIFA Ranking: 112
Previous appearances: Debutants
How they qualified: Group C winners
Group B fixtures: March 3: v China PR; March 6: v DPR Korea; March 9: v Uzbekistan
Fun fact: Bangladesh netted an impressive 16 goals and conceded only once in the Qualifiers
“This is a very young group. Almost half the squad is under 20 years old, and at the same time our U20 team also qualified for the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup Thailand 2026. It shows there’s something big happening," said Butler.
“We are not coming in expecting to win the tournament but the main aim is to lay the foundations, to build something that enables Bangladesh to qualify again and again.”
“We are not coming in expecting to win the tournament but the main aim is to lay the foundations, to build something that enables Bangladesh to qualify again and again.”
Prior to Butler’s arrival in 2024, Bangladesh had already demonstrated their potential by clinching the 2022 SAFF Women’s Championship under Golam Rabbani Choton – a breakthrough moment that ignited belief across the country.
Fast forward after winning the 2024 SAFF Women’s Championship, Butler has realigned the squad with younger players like Ritu Chakma, Sapna Rani and Afeida Khandaker, who has been tasked with the armband in favour of long-time captain Sabina Khatun, who did not make the squad.
Fast forward after winning the 2024 SAFF Women’s Championship, Butler has realigned the squad with younger players like Ritu Chakma, Sapna Rani and Afeida Khandaker, who has been tasked with the armband in favour of long-time captain Sabina Khatun, who did not make the squad.
In the Qualifiers, Bangladesh topped Group C with an impressive 16 goals and conceded just once. Chakma, Shamsunnahar Jr and Tohura Khatun were especially prolific, combining for 11 goals between them to power the team to history.
Drawn in Group B alongside defending champions China PR, former winners DPR Korea and Uzbekistan, Bangladesh face a stern test.
But for a team built on youth and rapid development, Australia 2026 represents not just a debut but the beginning of a long-term vision.
Drawn in Group B alongside defending champions China PR, former winners DPR Korea and Uzbekistan, Bangladesh face a stern test.
But for a team built on youth and rapid development, Australia 2026 represents not just a debut but the beginning of a long-term vision.
