Bangladesh football is awaiting a new era after being pitted against Asian champions Australia in the second round of the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers. In a draw ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last Tuesday, Bangladesh were drawn in Group B also containing Jordan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Bangladesh will begin their qualifying campaign at Bangabandhu National Stadium against Kyrgyzstan on June 11 before taking on Tajikistan at the same venue five days later. The men in red and green will play their first away game against Australia on September 3.
Bangladesh have never faced Australia and Jordan before. But, they have played against Kyrgyzstan twice with the last encounter taking place in 2008.
Bangladesh’s most familiar opponent in Group B are Tajikistan. Although Tajikistan have won four of their six meetings with one game ending in a draw, Bangladesh won the last encounter 2-1 five years ago.
Bangladesh (167th) are the lowest ranked nation in Group B while Australia (63rd) and Jordan (103th) will be hot favourites for the top two positions.
The second round of qualifiers in the Asian zone features 40 teams, who have been equally divided into eight groups comprising five teams each. Only the eight group champions and four best runners-up sides will qualify for the third round of World Cup qualifiers.
The 12 teams – eight group champions and four best runners-up sides – will also qualify for the 2019 Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
Bangladesh’s main intention or target, however, will be to qualify for the next round of Asian Cup qualifiers rather than the next round of World Cup qualifiers. And, Bangladesh’s chances of qualifying for the Asian Cup has already received a boost as the 16-team tournament has been expanded to 24 teams by the Asian Football Confederation.
With 12 teams from the second round of World Cup qualifiers progressing to the Asian Cup, the remaining 12 berths will be decided in the third round of Asian Cup qualifiers. The best 24 teams among the remaining 28 will be divided into six groups containing four sides each. The six group champions and runners-up sides will qualify for the Asian Cup.