The Bangladesh national football team is going through its most-watched period in a generation, driven by a wave of overseas-born players led by Sheffield United midfielder Hamza Choudhury and a home tournament to host. This page is a living hub for the Bangladesh national football team in 2026-27: the full fixture list with BST kick-off times, the current squad, recent results, the coaching setup under Thomas Dooley, and where to watch every match live from Bangladesh.
We update the Bangladesh national football team fixtures, squad and results after every international window. Bookmark it and check back before each match.
Bangladesh National Football Team Fixtures 2026-27
The Bangladesh national football team fixtures below cover the ASEAN Championship group stage, the home SAFF Championship and international friendlies. Times are Bangladesh Standard Time and confirmed against the Bangladesh Football Federation calendar. The Southeast Asian tournament is officially the ASEAN Championship but is still widely searched as the ASEAN Cup 2026.
| Date | Match | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Sep 2026 | Malaysia vs Bangladesh | ASEAN Championship, Group A | Away |
| 28 Sep 2026 | Singapore vs Bangladesh | ASEAN Championship, Group A | Away |
| 1 Oct 2026 | Indonesia vs Bangladesh | ASEAN Championship, Group A | Away |
| 4 Nov 2026 | Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka | SAFF Championship, Group A | National Stadium, Dhaka |
| 10 Nov 2026 | Bangladesh vs Bhutan | SAFF Championship, Group A | National Stadium, Dhaka |
Knockout dates for the SAFF Championship 2026 depend on Bangladesh’s group finish. Our SAFF Championship 2026 schedule page carries the full bracket, all seven teams and the venue list.
Bangladesh Football Team Next Match
The Bangladesh football team next match is the ASEAN Championship opener against Malaysia on 25 September 2026. It is the team’s first competitive outing since the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifying campaign closed, and the first real test of the Dooley system with the full overseas contingent available.
After the ASEAN group games, attention turns straight to the home SAFF Championship in November, where Bangladesh open against Sri Lanka in Dhaka.
Bangladesh Football Team Results and Form
Recent Bangladesh football team results point to cautious progress. The headline result of 2026 so far is a 2-1 friendly win away to San Marino in June, with veteran centre-back Topu Barman scoring twice.
- Jun 2026 – San Marino 1-2 Bangladesh (friendly, Serravalle) – Topu Barman 19′, 86′
- Mar 2026 – AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers concluded, Bangladesh finishing on 5 points in Group C
The qualifying campaign ended without a place at the 2027 finals in Saudi Arabia, but the closer margins against Group C sides marked a clear step up from previous cycles.
Bangladesh National Football Team Squad and Players
The Bangladesh national football team squad now draws from three pools: the domestic Bangladesh Football League core, long-serving internationals, and the overseas-born group that has reshaped the side since 2025. The Bangladesh national football team players below are the names most likely to feature this season.
Overseas-born players
- Hamza Choudhury – midfielder, Sheffield United, an FA Cup winner with Leicester City and the most experienced player Bangladesh has ever fielded.
- Fahamidul Islam – left-back or left winger, based in Italian football with Olbia.
- Somit Soma – Canada-raised midfielder who completed his switch in 2025.
- Kazi Shahad – Denmark-based forward adding pace on the flanks.
Home-based core
Goalkeepers Mitul Marma and Anisur Rahman Zico, defenders Topu Barman, Tariq Kazi and Shakil Ahad Tapu, midfielder and long-time captain Jamal Bhuyan, and forwards Rakib Hossain, Shahriar Emon and Faisal Ahmed Fahim make up the settled domestic spine.
The full matchday squad is named a few days before each window. We publish it on our players hub as soon as the Bangladesh Football Federation confirms it.
The Overseas Project – Why Hamza Choudhury Matters
Hamza Choudhury’s decision to represent Bangladesh, confirmed in early 2025, was the moment the overseas recruitment drive became serious. A Premier League and Championship midfielder with an FA Cup medal does not usually turn out for a side ranked outside the world’s top 180, and searches for Hamza Choudhury Bangladesh now spike around every international window.
His presence has changed how the Bangladesh national football team sets up: more secure in midfield, more willing to keep the ball, and harder to break down against stronger opposition. It has also opened the door for other diaspora players to follow, with several more cases in progress through FIFA’s eligibility process.
The test now is turning individual quality into results, starting with the ASEAN Championship and the home SAFF Championship 2026.
Bangladesh Football Team Coach – Thomas Dooley
The Bangladesh football team coach is Thomas Dooley, the German-American former United States captain, appointed by the Bangladesh Football Federation in 2026 on a two-year contract. Dooley won 81 caps for the USA and captained them at the 1998 World Cup.
His brief is clear: build a consistent system around the new player pool, deliver a strong showing at the home SAFF Championship, and lift Bangladesh’s FIFA ranking through the 2027 fixture calendar.
Bangladesh National Football Team FIFA Ranking
The Bangladesh national football team FIFA ranking sits at 181 in 2026, up from 192 in 2023. The all-time high is 88, reached in 1996, and the low was 197 in 2022.
Ranking points move most through competitive wins, so the SAFF Championship and any ASEAN Championship results carry real weight. The live figure is published by FIFA.
Bangladesh National Football Team History in Brief
The Bangladesh national football team has played international football since 1973, two years after independence. The defining night remains the 2003 SAFF Championship on home soil, when Bangladesh beat the Maldives in the final in Dhaka for their only senior title.
Between then and the mid-2020s, results were thin and the ranking slid toward the 190s. The current overseas-recruitment era is the most deliberate attempt yet to reverse that, and it has already made the Bangladesh national football team a regular fixture in the national sports conversation again rather than an afterthought behind cricket.
Which Competitions Bangladesh Plays
- SAFF Championship – the South Asian title, won by Bangladesh once, in 2003. Hosted in Dhaka in 2026.
- ASEAN Championship – Bangladesh competing in the Southeast Asian competition as an invited side for the 2026 edition.
- AFC Asian Cup qualifiers – the route to Asia’s main tournament; the 2027 cycle ended at the group stage.
- FIFA World Cup qualifiers – Asian second-round qualifying, where Bangladesh has faced sides such as Australia and Palestine.
- Friendlies – FIFA-window matches used to test the squad, like the June 2026 game in San Marino.
Our competitions section tracks the formats and standings, and the football section carries match reports after every Bangladesh game.
How to Watch the Bangladesh National Football Team Live
Every competitive Bangladesh national football team match is shown live in Bangladesh, usually on T Sports on television and on its official streaming channel. Home SAFF Championship matches also carry a matchday feed through Bangladesh Football Federation partners, and demand for a Bangladesh national football team live stream now rivals a Bangladesh cricket international.
- Television – T Sports is the primary rights holder for the national team in Bangladesh.
- Streaming – the T Sports app and website, plus the confederation’s stream for SAFF and ASEAN fixtures.
- In the stadium – SAFF Championship 2026 tickets for the National Stadium in Dhaka are sold through the federation’s official channels.
- BST timing – away ASEAN matches kick off in the Southeast Asian evening, roughly two to three hours ahead of Dhaka, so expect afternoon starts at home.
For the wider picture of live sport on Bangladeshi screens, see our guide to live sports in Bangladesh and, for cross-sport fans, how to watch cricket live in Bangladesh. The AFC publishes broadcast partners for its competitions on the-afc.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When is the Bangladesh football team next match?
Bangladesh play Malaysia on 25 September 2026 in the ASEAN Championship, then Singapore on 28 September and Indonesia on 1 October. The home SAFF Championship follows in November.
2. Who is the Bangladesh national football team coach?
Thomas Dooley, the former United States captain, appointed by the Bangladesh Football Federation in 2026 on a two-year contract.
3. Is Hamza Choudhury playing for Bangladesh?
Yes. Hamza Choudhury committed to Bangladesh in early 2025 and is now a regular starter in midfield, fitness and club release permitting.
4. What is the Bangladesh national football team FIFA ranking?
181 in 2026, up from 192 in 2023. The all-time high is 88, set in 1996.
5. What group is Bangladesh in for the SAFF Championship 2026?
Group A, alongside Sri Lanka and Bhutan, with matches at the National Stadium in Dhaka on 4 and 10 November 2026.
6. How can I watch Bangladesh matches live?
On T Sports television and its app in Bangladesh, plus the SAFF and ASEAN Championship streams for those tournaments. Our live sports guide lists the current options.
Follow Bangladesh Football on Sports Affairs BD
We cover every Bangladesh national football team window with a preview, a live-updated result and a reaction piece. The বাংলাদেশ জাতীয় ফুটবল দল story is only getting bigger with the home SAFF Championship ahead.
Browse the latest in our football news feed, see all coverage on the articles page, check upcoming games in the match centre, and read more about Sports Affairs BD or head back to the homepage.
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