Bangladesh now have a chance to qualify for the World Cup
Ritu Porna Chakma’s brace guided Bangladesh to a stunning 2-1 victory over a higher-ranked Myanmar side in their Asian Cup qualifying fixture at Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon yesterday.
Having already secured their place in the AFC Women's Asian Cup for the very first time, the Bangladesh women's football team now have an opportunity to qualify for the 2027 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games as well.
Ritu Porna Chakma's brace guided Bangladesh to a stunning 2-1 victory over a higher-ranked Myanmar side in their Asian Cup qualifying fixture at Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon yesterday.
The crucial win against Myanmar – who are ranked 73 places above 128th-ranked Bangladesh – greatly enhanced Bangladesh's chances of progression. However, confirmation of their qualification came later in the day, following a 2-2 draw between Turkmenistan and Bahrain.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
A total of five teams have now qualified for the AFC Asian Cup – Australia (as hosts), China, Japan, South Korea, and Bangladesh – with the tournament set to take place next March. The 12-team competition will also serve as a qualifying stage for the upcoming FIFA Women's World Cup, with the top six teams earning a spot in the global tournament. Additionally, the top eight teams will become eligible to compete in the Olympic Games.
The sides finishing seventh and eighth will also have the chance to qualify for the World Cup via intercontinental play-offs.
The road to the World Cup and the Olympics remains a long one, but this Bangladesh side – who have already beaten higher-ranked opponents such as Myanmar and Bahrain – can now set their sights firmly on achieving that goal.
