Bangladesh to begin Women’s Asia Cup journey against reigning champions China

Bangladesh’s historic journey at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup will begin with a challenging opener against China, the most successful team in the tournament’s history. 

The match will mark the start of Bangladesh’s campaign in Australia, where the continent’s premier women’s football event will be co-hosted.

The tournament officially kicks off on March 1 in Perth, Australia, with a Group A clash between the Philippines and hosts Australia.

Bangladesh has been placed in the group of death – Group B, alongside three Asian football powerhouses: China, North Korea, and Uzbekistan.

Bangladesh’s match schedule:

 March 3: Bangladesh vs China in Sydney

March 6: Bangladesh vs North Korea in Sydney  

March 9: Bangladesh vs Uzbekistan in Perth  

The final group stage match offers a crucial opportunity to secure progression.

The tournament follows a round-robin format in the group stage, where each team plays the others once. The top two teams from each of the three groups will advance directly to the quarterfinals.

Additionally, the three third-placed teams will compete in a mini round-robin playoff, from which the top two will also qualify for the quarterfinals – making a total of eight teams.

Crucially, all eight quarterfinalists will earn qualification for the next FIFA Women’s World Cup, making every match a high-stakes battle for continental glory and global opportunity.

For Bangladesh, competing on such a stage is a landmark moment. Facing giants like China and North Korea will be a steep challenge – but also a chance to showcase the growing strength of women’s football in the country.