Bangladesh made the biggest leap in the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking following their historic qualification for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup for the first time ever.

Yesterday, many officials from PFL outfits gathered outside the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) headquarters. Some carried placards. Others brought children who should have been out on a field, not protesting on a pavement.

Bangladesh coach Peter Butler was looking to embrace the challenge of facing strong opponents after his side were drawn in a tough group, which included defending champions China, in their maiden Women's Asian Cup campaign.

The BFF had approached several top local coaches to take charge of the U-23 team, but all declined for various reasons.

Bangladesh have been placed in Group A of the SAFF U-17 Championship along with hosts Sri Lanka, who will stage the regional youth tournament in Colombo from September 15 to 20.

With less than a month remaining before the transfer window of the Bangladesh Premier League closes, footballers are struggling to secure suitable contracts for the upcoming 2025-26 season due to financial constraints faced by the participating clubs.

Morsalin, who left Bashundhara Kings in search of more game time, said the welcome made his move all the more special.

Meanwhile, reigning world champions Argentina have retained their top spot

Players have spoken publicly about the need for proper nutrition, functioning gyms, better training grounds, and a stable domestic league.

Tanned by summer heat, tuned by a season of relentless graft at Sheffield United, and tested by rollercoaster ride with Bangladesh, the 26-year-old returned to the club where his footballing identity was forged.

In Peter Butler’s system, the Bangladesh goalie is also the first attacker.

Having already secured their place in the AFC Women's Asian Cup for the very first time, Bangladesh women’s football team now has a chance to qualify for the 2027 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics as well.

The trial ended with two matches of one-hour duration each – one for the under-19 level and the other for the under-23 level -- as the game’s local governing body looks for talented Bangladeshi-origin footballers from across the world to strengthen its pipeline.

Qualifiers run from September 20–24, with the main event set for January 27 to February 7 in Indonesia next year.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) will soon invite applications for eight key technical positions, president Tabith Awal confirmed to The Daily Star, refuting media reports that former national team coach Lodewijk de Kruif has been chosen to helm the federation’s technical director’s post.

Amid the gleam of trophies and medals, what stood out most was the promise of tomorrow, as both girls and boys showed flashes of future stardom.

About 10 years ago, in 2015, the Bangladesh national football team suffered a 2-1 defeat to Singapore in a FIFA friendly match. Tuesday’s identical 2-1 defeat to the same opponent in the Asian Cup Qualifiers at the same ground gives the impression that the men in red and green have remained in the same place they were a decade ago -- despite the inclusion of expatriate players like Hamza Choudhury and Shamit Shome.

Just hours after Bangladesh’s defeat against Singapore in an AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers fixture, coach Javier Cabrera as well as foreign-born players -- Hamza Choudhury and Shamit Shome -- departed Dhaka, confirmed a key member of the team’s management.

Anticipation was high, yet the scenes at the newly renovated National Stadium still amazed as the entire premises transformed into a sea of white -- the color of Bangladesh’s home jersey -- as Bangladesh prepared to face Singapore in a much-hyped Asian Cup Qualifier yesterday.

To make sure everyone gets to see the action on TV, the match will be broadcast live on T Sports