BSS
  09 Aug 2025, 14:44

History beckons Bangladesh women's football team

The Bangladeshi U-20 women's football team. File photo

DHAKA, Aug 9, 2025 (BSS)- The Bangladeshi U-20 women's football team is on the verge of making history as they need only one point against South Korea to get the ticket to the AFC Women's Asian Cup U-20 Championship 2026 Thailand qualifiers.

Bangladesh take on South Korea in their ultimate group H match scheduled to be held at the New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane tomorrow (Saturday) at 3 pm. 
    
Though both Bangladesh (11 goals) and South Korea (10 goals) have secured six points each after the two group matches, Bangladesh stands top of the points table by virtue of better goal difference.

Bangladesh has won their opening two matches of the championship with a high note and they need just one point in their last group match against strong South Korea to become the group champions. The girls in red and green will also have the opportunity to play in the Asian Cup after the senior team if they become group champions.

South Korea is undoubtedly the top favorite in Bangladesh's group. They already proved their strength by defeating East Timor massively 9-0 in the first match and defeating host Laos 1-0 in the second match. 

Bangladesh also proved their prowess defeating Laos by 3-1 goals and thrashing Timor-Leste by 8-0 goals. It was expected that favorite South Korea would win by a large margin against Laos but they managed to earn a hard-fought solitary goal win in their second match, leaving Bangladesh at the top of the group.


   Bangladesh must have to emerge as the group top or else they must have to become the top three of the runner-up teams to get the final round ticket of AFC Asian Cup U-20 Women's Championship 2026 to be held next year in Thailand.
   
In that case, Bangladesh has a good chance to become the group champion if they are able to snatch one point from South Korea in their last match of this group.

If the last group match ends in a draw, both Bangladesh and Korea will get one point each. In that case, Bangladesh will remain at the top of the group by virtue of goal difference.


Thirty-two teams divided into eight groups are contesting in the round-robin league format qualifiers, and the eight group winners and the three best runners-up will join hosts Thailand in April 2026.

Bangladesh U-20 squad - Mile Akter, Mst Fardosi Akter Shonale, Swarna Rani Mandal, Afeida Khandakar, Mst Ruma Akter, Kanom Akter, Mst Joynob Bibi Rita, Mst Surma Jannat, Mst Oeyshi Khatun, Ayonto Bala Mahato, Kanon Rani Bahadur, Nadia Akter Juti, Mst Bonna Khatun, Nabiran Khatun, Shanti Mardi, Rupa Akter, Most Munki Akhter, Sapna Rani, Sinha Jahan Shikha, Mst Sagorika, Umehla Marma,Puja Das and Sree Moti Trishna Rani.