AFC Breakthrough: Bangladesh Women's Football Team One Step Closer to World Cup

Under the bright floodlights of Thuwunna Stadium, the Bangladesh women’s football team achieved what many once deemed impossible: a place in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup for the first time in history.

In addition to securing their spot in the 2026 competition in Australia, their exciting 2-1 victory over top-seeded Myanmar also created the possibility of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Few people in Bangladesh will ever forget the match, which was a moment years in the making.

Against the Odds in Yangon

Ranked 128th in the world, Bangladesh faced a steep climb against Myanmar, placed 73 spots higher. But the players in red and green stepped onto the pitch undeterred. Leading the charge was 21-year-old forward Ritu Porna Chakma, who delivered a stunning brace that silenced the home crowd and turned a nation’s attention to its women’s team.

Bangladesh had already made headlines days earlier by thrashing Bahrain 7–0. But this was different. Myanmar were the hosts. The pressure was intense. And yet, Bangladesh controlled the tempo and carved out two goals—both from Ritu—before conceding late.

Their six points from two games weren’t enough to confirm qualification on their own. However, Bangladesh formally won Group C with one game remaining after Bahrain and Turkmenistan drew 2-2 later that evening.

A World Cup Dream Within Reach

Qualifying for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup is a major milestone on its own. But it also places Bangladesh in a pipeline toward two of football’s biggest stages.

The top six finishers at the 12-team continental tournament will earn direct entry to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, while the top eight qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games. Teams finishing seventh and eighth will still have a shot at the World Cup through intercontinental playoffs.

The path ahead is long and packed with fierce competition. But Bangladesh’s back-to-back wins—against Bahrain and Myanmar—prove they’re not here to simply participate.

Final Statement: A 7–0 Rout of Turkmenistan

On July 5, Bangladesh capped off their group-stage campaign with another statement performance, demolishing Turkmenistan 7–0. In addition to Sapna Rani, Monika Chakma, and Tohura Khatun adding their names to the scoresheet, Ritu and Shamsunnahar Jr. each scored twice.

With nine points from three matches, Bangladesh emerged as dominant leaders in their group. The team now awaits the official draw for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026.

Ritu Porna: The Star Leading a Movement

Indigenous icon Ritu Porna Chakma was born in the Rangamati hill district, and her ascent is as inspiring as it is improbable. She lost her father as a young girl and later her brother in a tragic accident, but football became her outlet—and eventually, her platform.

From scoring in youth championships to winning the 2022 SAFF Women’s Championship, and now helping her country to a historic Asian Cup debut, Ritu embodies a generation of Bangladeshi athletes breaking through cultural and competitive barriers.

A New Era for South Asian Women’s Football?

Bangladesh is the first South Asian nation in 22 years to qualify for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Their emergence couldn’t come at a better time—when women’s football across the region is still fighting for resources, recognition, and respect.

Their success is not just about goals. It is about rewriting expectations, smashing stereotypes, and showing the world that South Asia has stories worth watching.

As they prepare for Australia in 2026, Bangladesh’s women are no longer outsiders. They are contenders—and might even be the region’s next World Cup debutants.

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