With the 2025 AFC Women’s Asian Cup scheduled to take place in Australia from 1 to 21 March, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is planning an ambitious preparation program to ensure the national women's team is ready to compete at Asia’s top level for the first time in history.

Following their landmark qualification, Bangladesh have been drawn in a challenging group featuring reigning champions China and nine-time champions North Korea, making their debut campaign all the more significant. Speaking about the road ahead, head of BFF women’s wing Mahfuza Akhter Kiron stressed the importance of high-quality preparation, including international training camps and competitive warm-up matches.

“I have already spoken with football officials in South Korea and proposed whether it would be possible to hold a month-long camp and play matches there,” Kiron said. “However, Korea has informed us that they will be sending their team to Europe for Asian Cup preparations. That is why we are not playing against South Korea. Now I will talk to Japan and Spain. There has been brief communication with Japan. They haven’t informed us of anything yet.”

Bangladesh will be making their debut at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup after beating Bahrain, Myanmar and Turkmenistan in the qualifiers, where they impressed with disciplined performances and growing tactical maturity. Kiron believes this is a golden opportunity for the team to learn from the continent’s elite.

“Last time’s champion team China is in our group. Even if we want, we don’t usually get the opportunity to play matches against countries like China or North Korea. We have already said that we performed well at the South Asian and Asian qualifying levels. Now, by playing at Asia’s highest level, we will be able to gain more experience,” she added.

The focus, however, is not just on participation. Kiron emphasized that the team is aiming to be competitive – particularly targeting the crucial fixture against Uzbekistan.

“We will go to Australia with the kind of preparation needed to win against Uzbekistan,” she concluded.

The AFC Women’s Asian Cup will feature 12 of the continent’s best teams, competing not only for the title but also for qualification spots at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. For Bangladesh, this tournament marks a new chapter – one that promises exposure, development, and a chance to showcase the rapid strides made by women's football in the country.