Bangladesh’s U-20 women’s football team has secured a historic qualification for the 2026 U-20 Women’s Asian Cup in Thailand, thanks to China’s resounding 8-0 victory over Lebanon in a crucial Group E match.
The result ensured Bangladesh’s place as one of the top three runners-up in the qualifiers, marking their first-ever appearance in the tournament’s finals.
Following a 6-1 defeat to South Korea in their final Group H match, Bangladesh’s hopes of advancing hinged on the outcomes of other group matches.
The team, led by players like Afeeda Khandaker, anxiously awaited the result of the China-Lebanon clash. China’s dominant performance delivered the outcome Bangladesh needed, sparking celebrations among the red-and-green squad.
This achievement comes on the heels of another milestone for Bangladeshi women’s football. Last month, the senior women’s national team made history by defeating Myanmar to qualify for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, their first-ever appearance in that competition.
Within a span of 38 days, Bangladesh’s senior and U-20 teams have both secured their places in Asian Cup finals, marking a golden era for women’s football in the country.
The U-20 Women’s Asian Cup, scheduled for 1–18 April 2026 in Thailand, will feature 12 teams, with the four semi-finalists earning qualification for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland from 5–27 September 2026.
This presents Bangladesh’s youth team with a golden opportunity to aim for the global stage, mirroring the ambitions of their senior counterparts.
In the qualifiers, Bangladesh showcased their potential in Group H, defeating hosts Laos 3-1 and thrashing East Timor 8-0 before their loss to South Korea.
Both South Korea and Bangladesh advanced from the group to the finals.