Bangladesh women's national football team

History

Origins (2007–2012)

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. 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, 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.

Emergence (2013–2020)

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.

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 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.

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. In the semi-finals having defeated Bhutan by 8–0 and 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 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.

Team image

Colours

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.

Home stadium

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

Media coverage

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

Rivalries

India

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. 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 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.

Results and fixtures

Main article: Bangladesh women's national football team results

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

• Elizabeth Forshaw
• Georgia Gibson
• Khandaker
• Nouf Faleh
• Mia Lindborg
• Georgia Gibson
• Khandaker
• Jbarah
• Al Bitar
• Shamsunnahar Jr.
• Ripa
• Shamsunnahar Jr.
• Ritu
• Kohati
• Tohura
• Rawan Al Ali
• Munki
• Ritu
• Win Win
• Sapna Rani
• Shamsunnahar Jr.
• Monika Chakma
• Ritu Porna Chakma
• Tohura Khatun
• O. Waenngoen
• S. Pengngam
• P. Aupachai
• Pengngam
• Chiraphon Mangkhaldee
• Madison Jett Castain
• Mongkoldee
• Shamsunnahar
• Nur Ainsyah Murad
• Manya

2026

• Bangladesh Results and Fixtures – Soccerway.com

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

Manager history

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

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2025 Bangladesh Tri-Nations Cup in November 2025.{{cite news|url= https://www.dhakatribune.com/sport/football/397226/bangladesh-women%E2%80%99s-team-squad-announced-for|title= Bangladesh women’s team squad announced for tri-nation series|publisher=Dhaka Tribune |date=24 November 2025}}

Caps and goals updated as of 2 December 2025 after the match against Azerbaijan.

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–Present)

Records

*Players in bold are still active with Bangladesh.

Most capped players

Top goalscorers

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

Olympic Games

:*Denotes draws includes knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

AFC Women's Asian Cup

:*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Asian Games

:*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

SAFF Women's Championship

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

South Asian Games

:*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Head-to-head record

Source: Results

Honours

Regional

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

National

• Ekushey Padak: 2025

References

References

1. (19 September 2022). "History made – Bangladesh girls win maiden Saff football championship". The Business Standard.
2. (2024-11-01). "Winning the second SAFF Women's Championship: Footsteps to the future".
3. (5 January 2017). "India keep unbeaten SAFF record". shekicks.net.
4. "Women's football enters Bangladesh". the-AFC.com.
5. "11th South Asian Federation Games 2010 (Bangladesh)".
6. (25 October 2014). "BFF announces national women's squad for SAFF". The Daily Observer.
7. (5 January 2017). "India keep unbeaten SAFF record". shekicks.net.
8. link. (16 March 2019). Prothom Alo
9. (23 June 2022). "Fifa Womens Football Bangladesh script history crush malaysia 6-0". UNB.
10. (8 September 2022). "Sabina brace downs Maldives". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh).
11. (10 September 2022). "Sabina scores hattrick as Bangladesh hit Pakistan for six". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh).
12. (13 September 2022). "Bangladesh seal maiden victory over India". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh).
13. (16 September 2022). "Bangladesh storm into final with 8-0 thrashing of Bhutan". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh).
14. (19 September 2022). "Bangladesh women make history, clinch maiden SAFF title". [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh).
15. (19 September 2022). "Bangladesh crowned champions". [[Prothom Alo]].
16. (19 September 2022). "President, PM lauds Bangladesh team for winning SAFF Women's Championship 2022". [[Dhaka Tribune]].
17. (19 September 2022). "Bangladesh women create history, clinch Saff Championship for first time". [[Dhaka Tribune]].
18. (1 February 2025). "Bangladesh internationals accuse coach of inappropriate behaviour, federation sets up investigation committee". Sportstar.
19. (1 November 2024). "Winning the second SAFF Women's Championship: Footsteps to the future". The Daily Star.
20. (30 October 2024). "Bangladesh wins SAFF Women's Championship 2024 with 2-1 victory over Nepal". DD News.
21. (25 May 2025). "Butler ignores Sabina, four others for Jordan tri-series". New Age.
22. (5 May 2025). "Bangladesh women footballers end revolt and sign central contracts". The Business Standard.
23. (2 July 2025). "Bangladesh close to Asian Cup after beating Myanmar -". The Daily Observer.
24. (2 July 2025). "AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 - Qualifiers - Group C:Turkmenistan 2-2 Bahrain". Asian Football Confederation.
25. (13 September 2022). "SAFF Women's Championship 2022 football: Bangladesh condemn India to first-ever loss".
26. "Member Association – Bangladesh".
27. (20 February 2025). "17 dignitaries, women football team get Ekushey Padak". [[The Daily Observer (Bangladesh).