Bangladesh to compete in FIFA ASEAN Cup, confirms BFF
Omar Faruk
Bangladesh is set to participate in the upcoming FIFA ASEAN Cup following official clearance from world football’s governing body, Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Media Committee Chairman Amirul Islam Babu confirmed.
Speaking after an executive committee meeting, Babu stated that after expressing initial consent, the BFF was awaiting the green light from FIFA. With positive confirmation received, Bangladesh's participation in the tournament is now finalized.
The FIFA ASEAN Cup, featuring teams from South and Southeast Asia, is scheduled to run from September 24 to October 4. The opportunity for Bangladesh opened up after India withdrew its name from the tournament on August 13.
The tournament will feature 14 teams from the region divided into two categories: the Premier Division and the Challenge Division. Indonesia will host the Premier Division matches, while Hong Kong will host the Challenge Division. Bangladesh has been placed in the Premier Division alongside Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Pakistan.
Regarding the national team's preparations, Babu noted that while a training camp was initially slated to begin on August 27, the exact schedule is yet to be finalized.
"This matter has not been fully finalized yet. The National Teams Management Committee has been briefed and will decide on the camp timeline, player call-ups, and strategies in consultation with the coach," Babu added.
