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 and has yet to qualify for the World Cup.

Bangladesh are the defending champion at the SAFF Women's Championship, after clinching their maiden title in 2022.^[2] They also went on to win the championship again in 2024 after defeating Nepal in the finals.^[3] They also secured a bronze medal in the South Asian Federation Games 2010 and a silver medal at the SAFF Women's Championship 2016.^[4]

Women's football was introduced in Bangladesh when the nations 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.^[5] The tournaments success, lead 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 in 29 January 2010 against Nepal, during the 2010 South Asian Games,^[6] held in Dhaka, losing 1–0. The team impressed in the following fixtures, pulling of 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.

After 2012 SAFF Women's Championship, BFF started to make a structure for women's team. On the other hand, government started Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Gold Cup Football Tournament from 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 almost a year-long camp for 2014 SAFF Women's Championship, and Bangladesh team won two of there 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.^[7]

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.^[8] 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.^[9]

Bangladesh did not make 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 draw one and beat one Malaysia by 6–0 before the 2022 SAFF Women's Championship.^[10]

Bangladesh won their all three group matches having defeated Maldives by 3–0, Pakistan by 6–0 and India by 3–0, reached Semi-finals as unbeaten group champion.^[11][12][13] In the semi-finals having defeated Bhutan by 8–0 and reached the Final.^[14] 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.^{[15][16][17][18]}

Peter James Butler became Bangladesh's head coach in March 2024.^[19] Bangladesh won their second consecutive title at the 2024 SAFF Women's Championship defeating Nepal 2–1 in the final.^[20][21]

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.^[22] The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) intervened and offered new contracts to players of the national team. The dispute was resolved by late March 2025.^[23]

In June–July 2025, Bangladesh took part at 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.^[24][25]

The Bangladesh national football team plays in bottle green shirts and dark red shorts embedded. Also with red and green stripes. Green and red are the historic national colours of Bangladesh, originating from the national flag of Bangladesh. The red represents the sun rising over Bengal, and also the blood of those who died for the independence of Bangladesh. The green stands for the lushness of the land of Bangladesh. The current Bangladesh away jersey is completely diametric to the regular one.

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

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

Bangladesh has developed a competitive and closely watched regional rivalry with the 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.^[26] 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.

The rivalry between the 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.

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

Legend

  Win   Draw   Lose

• Bangladesh Results and Fixtures – Soccerway.com

As of 2 July 2025

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

• The following players were called up for 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification matches on June 2025^[28]

Caps and goals updated as of 5 July 2025 after the match against Turkmenistan.

The following players have been called up for the team in the last 12 months.

• Trishna Chakma (2009–2012)
• Suinu Pru Marma (2012–2014)
• Aungmraching Marma (2014–2015)
• Sabina Khatun (2015–2024)
• Afeida Khandaker (2025–)

As of 5 July 2025

*Players in bold are still active with Bangladesh.

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

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

*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

As of 22 September 2021

As of 5 July 2025

Source: Results

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

• Ekushey Padak: 2025^[29]

• Sport in Bangladesh
• Women's football in Bangladesh
• Bangladesh Football Federation

National teams

Women's

• Bangladesh women's national football team
  • Bangladesh women's national football team results
  • List of Bangladesh women's international footballers
  • List of Bangladesh women's national football team managers
• Bangladesh women's national under-20 football team
• Bangladesh women's national under-17 football team

Men's

• Bangladesh men's national team

• Bangladesh Football Federation
• Bangladesh FIFA profile