U-20 Women's Asian Cup: Bangladesh eye World Cup qualification

Bangladesh's women made history by playing in the Women's Asian Cup for the first time. In March, the team played three group-stage matches in Australia but failed to win any. A World Cup berth was within sight for the senior team at that tournament, but their debut experience did not end happily. Now, Bangladesh is set to begin another Women's Asian Cup mission. The U-20 Women's Asian Cup kicks off in Thailand on Wednesday, April 1. Bangladesh is also participating in this tournament for the first time. A strong performance here could secure the women's team a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as the four semi-finalists will qualify directly.

Despite the World Cup incentive, Bangladesh faces a tough group in the U-20 Asian Cup. Placed in Group A, they will face hosts Thailand, Vietnam and China. Bangladesh's campaign begins on the opening day of the tournament at Bangkok's Thammasat Stadium at 6:00 pm Bangladesh time on Wednesday, with Afeida and her teammates taking on Thailand. The group winners and runners-up will advance to the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams from the three groups.

The Bangladesh U-20 women's team is coached by senior team coach Peter Butler. Afeida Khandaker, who captained the senior side in the Asian Cup, is also leading this age-group team. Several other senior team players are also in the U-20 squad. Bangladesh hopes to capitalise on the experience gained from playing against top sides in Australia recently to achieve something significant at the U-20 Asian Cup. Coach Peter Butler believes the senior Asian Cup experience will prove invaluable. Speaking at a press conference before the tournament, the English coach said, "We have come here straight from the senior Asian Cup. We have many young players with us. This will be a new experience for them. Just being here is a great achievement for them. I hope this will be a wonderful learning experience for the girls, and they can take something away from this prestigious tournament."

Butler noted that the current squad, a blend of junior and senior players, holds immense potential. "We took 10 to 12 young players from the U-20 team to the senior Asian Cup because they were already part of the national team setup. Yes, we lost some matches, but this journey provided many important learning opportunities," he said.

The coach also expressed satisfaction with the conditions in Thailand, the tournament venue. "I have always emphasised to these young players that they give their best and stay authentic. Here in Thailand, we have good quality pitches, excellent training facilities, and a great environment for football. They have a rich footballing history and are very supportive of the women's game. I want Bangladesh to become more supportive of its women's football team and place greater importance on it because the potential here is huge. At the end of the day, it's a game of numbers," he added. Butler further expressed hope that the players would prove their mettle and play competitive football. "I think their performances in the senior national tournament will put us in a good position. We want to see some positive performances, without thinking too much about the results."

Following the opening match, Bangladesh will face China on April 4 and conclude the group stage against Vietnam on April 7. The tournament final is scheduled for April 18.