Ronan Sullivan has been included in Bangladesh’s 28-member preliminary squad for the SAFF Championship 2026, with the United States-based forward set to get an opportunity to make his senior international debut after impressing for the country’s junior team.
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) announced the preliminary squad on Saturday for the regional tournament, which will be held in Dhaka from November 5 to 17.
Ronan, who represented Bangladesh in the SAFF U-20 Championship in the Maldives in April, played an important role in the young Bengal Tigers’ title-winning campaign. He scored twice against Pakistan before helping Bangladesh beat India in the final to lift the trophy.
England-based forward Mohammed Mahe Khan has also earned a place in the preliminary squad after represnting Bangladesh at the U-20 level in the AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers in Uzbekistan earlier this year. The 18-year-old plays for English lower-tier club Moulton FC and has impressed this season, scoring nine goals in seven appearances.
The inclusion of the Bangladesh-origin strikers comes as head coach Thomas Dooley looks to strengthen the national team’s attacking options following a difficult campaign in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup last month.
The preliminary squad also features three overseas-based players who made their Bangladesh senior international debuts during the FIFA ASEAN Cup in September.
England-based winger Farhaan Ali Wahid, Japan-based forward Shuki Itofusa and London-born defender Zidane Alexander Yousuf have all retained their places in the squad.
Farhaan, who is on loan at Boreham Wood from Fulham’s youth setup, made his debut against Malaysia on September 25. Shuki came on as a second-half substitute in the same match, while Zidane also made his first appearance for Bangladesh during the 3-0 defeat in Jakarta.
Bangladesh have been drawn in Group A alongside Bhutan and Sri Lanka, while defending champions India, Pakistan and the Maldives make up Group B. Nepal are absent from the current schedule following their suspension by FIFA.
The hosts will open their campaign against Bhutan at the National Stadium in Dhaka on November 5.
Bangladesh last hosted the SAFF Championship in 2018 and won their only title in 2003.
The home side will be aiming to make the most of home advantage as they seek to end a 23-year wait for another regional crown.
Bangladesh's 28-man squad:
Mitul Marma, Sujon Hossain, Mehdi Hasan Srabon, Topu Barman, Bishwanath Ghosh, Md Saad Uddin, Md Rahmat Mia, Zidane Alexander Yousuf, Md Isa Faysal, Tariq Raihan Kazi, Zayyan Ahmed, Md Sohel Rana, Sohel Rana, Mohammad Ridoy, Hamza Choudhury, Shamit Shome, Syed Quazem Kirmanee Shah, Jamal Bhuiyan, Foysal Ahmed Fahim, Fahamedul Islam, Minhazul Karim Shadin, Mohammed Ibrahim, Shuki Itofusa, Farhaan Ali Wahid, Sheikh Morsalin, Rakib Hossain, Ronan Sullivan, Mohammed Mahe Khan
