Bangladesh Football Federation is all set to host the Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football at the end of September or at the first week of October. Kazi Salahuddin, the president of BFF, revealed the fact at his office yesterday.
Salahuddin, who returned to the capital after attending the FIFA Congress at Mauritius on Saturday, said all the preliminary formalities had been completed. He had talked with the presidents of the respective federations and they have asked to send the invitations, he informed.
Salahuddin revealed the names of the probable participant countries. “I have talked with Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, Thailand, India and Iran. I want India’s presence at any cost and they will be grouped with Bangladesh. The meet will comprise of at least six teams and maximum eight,” said Salahuddin.
Salahuddin said the reality is tougher than he anticipated as the tournaments have become an old fashioned idea. “All the teams go through some hectic procedures to complete their domestic meet and the FIFA and AFC commitments. Moreover, they have their regional commitments, so arranging tournaments are tough as you don’t have enough slots to provide. However, the teams agreed to my call and I have to send the invitations within ten days,” said the BFF president.
Salahuddin also said he has started the look for sponsors and the other infrastructural support.
Back in 1996, BFF hosted its very own international meet and it was also the Bangabandhu Cup and since then BFF has hosted many tourneys, but all of them were either FIFA, AFC of SAFF affiliated meets.
Bangladesh will begin their month-long training camp from July 1 ahead of their SAFF football championship assignment which is scheduled to be held in Nepal in September. Before that, Bangladesh are expected to play a number of international friendlies including Thailand and Malaysia.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
