What Bangladesh Must Do to Qualify for the Asian Cup After 47 Years

Sports Desk : In 1980, Bangladesh participated in the AFC Asian Cup for the first and only time. Since then, 47 years have passed, and the team has not returned to this prestigious continental tournament. However, an opportunity now lies ahead for Bangladesh to secure a spot in the 2027 Asian Cup, set to be held in Saudi Arabia.

The arrival of diaspora players like Hamza Choudhury has fueled these aspirations. The English Premier League midfielder made an impactful debut for Bangladesh, holding India to a goalless draw in a match played on Indian soil in March. This result has opened the door to Bangladesh’s Asian Cup dreams.

Qualifying, however, is no easy task. To reach the 2027 Asian Cup, Bangladesh must top Group C in the third round of qualifiers. The group includes India (FIFA rank 127), Hong Kong (153), and Singapore (161), all ranked higher than Bangladesh, which stands at 183. Despite the ranking gap, Bangladesh’s performance against India—59 places above them—proves that rankings can be defied.

So far, all teams in Group C have played one match, with both games ending in goalless draws, leaving each team with one point. Bangladesh has five matches remaining. Today, June 10, they face Singapore at Dhaka’s National Stadium. Upcoming fixtures include two matches against Hong Kong, one more against India, and another against Singapore. Positive results in these games could secure the group championship and a ticket to the Asian Cup after 47 years.

The 2027 Asian Cup will feature 24 teams, with host Saudi Arabia already qualified. The qualification process for the Asian Cup is integrated with the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and teams eliminated in the first two rounds get another chance in the third round.

Under coach Javier Cabrera, Bangladesh is preparing rigorously. A recent 2-0 friendly win against Bhutan, coupled with standout performances from players like Hamza Choudhury, has boosted team morale. The question now is whether Hamza and his teammates can turn this dream into reality.

AI/MR