Bangladesh women’s team to face India, Jordan in preparatory matches

Bangla Press Desk:  Bangladesh’s U-20 women’s football team is all set to make history at the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup, scheduled from 1-18 April in Bangkok, Thailand. But before they step onto the big stage, the team will get a taste of competitive action in two crucial preparatory matches against India and Jordan, giving them the perfect warm-up to fine-tune their skills and teamwork.

For the young Bangladeshi stars, this tournament is uncharted territory. Placed in Group A, they face a tough line-up: hosts Thailand, continental powerhouse China, and regional rival Vietnam. While China remains the team to beat, Thailand and Vietnam are within reach. Historically, Bangladesh has struggled against both, but a victory over these two could open the door to a group runner-up spot and a place in the knockout rounds. The group fixtures are set: 1 April against Thailand, 4 April against China, and 7 April against Vietnam.

Bangladesh will depart Dhaka on 21 March, and immediately immerse themselves in preparations on Thai soil with the two friendly matches. Before that, the squad will spend several days in a training camp back home to sharpen tactics and build chemistry. BFF Women’s Wing Chairman Mahfuz Akhter Kiron confirmed that all preparations are on track.

The squad packs experience and talent. Eleven players from the senior national team will join the U-20 camp, including goalkeeper Mile Akter, defenders Afeida Khandaker, Nabiran Khatun, and Surovi Akter Afrin, midfielders Munki Akter and Sapna Rani, and strikers Umhela Marma and Souravi Akanda Prity. Several of them Mile, Afeida, Sapna Rani, Umhela, and Prity recently played in Australia, bringing invaluable international experience to the young squad.

Off the pitch, a shadow of uncertainty has hovered over the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 in Thailand. The ongoing global energy crisis has directly affected the host nation, raising concerns about whether the tournament can proceed as planned. 

According to local media and sports analysts, soaring international oil prices and supply shortages have put Thailand’s transportation and logistics sectors under significant strain. The situation is exacerbated by tensions near the Strait of Hormuz, which could reduce daily oil supplies by nearly 20 million barrels globally an enormous challenge for an import-dependent country like Thailand.

To mitigate the impact, the Thai government has reportedly introduced strict measures, including diesel subsidies exceeding 1 billion baht per day, encouraging civil servants to work from home, limiting elevator use in favor of stairs, and temporarily halting fuel exports. These steps have understandably raised concerns about the smooth conduct of the tournament.

However, Mahfuz Akhter Kiron, BFF Women’s Wing Chairman and Executive Committee Member of the AFC, reassured that the tournament remains on schedule. “As of now, everything is on time and there are no problems. Yes, the global energy situation has worsened after conflicts in the Middle East, but it hasn’t affected the tournament so far. According to the latest information, all AFC schedules are intact and everything is proceeding as planned,” Kiron said.

Bangladesh’s U-20 women’s team now focuses on leveraging their preparation matches against India and Jordan to arrive in Thailand ready to make a mark in their first-ever AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup appearance.Source: daily Sun

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