United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh have climbed three places in the latest FIFA rankings, following a spirited draw against Nepal and a statement victory over regional rivals India. The year-ending rankings, released by FIFA within 24 hours of the close of the men’s international break, kept Spain firmly at the top. Bangladesh played two matches during the November FIFA window. Javier Cabrera’s side began with a 2–2 draw in last Thursday’s friendly against Nepal, before sealing a memorable 1–0 victory over India on Tuesday in the third round of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. The results propelled Bangladesh to 180th position, a three-step rise from their previous ranking. India, by contrast, slid six places and now sit 142nd after the defeat. Spain, meanwhile, confirmed their place in next year’s World Cup with one win and one draw across two fixtures. Although they dropped a few points, the 2010 world champions remain atop the global standings. Argentina also held their ground, staying second after a 2–0 victory over Angola in their only match this month. There was no movement in the next two spots either, with France retaining third place and England anchored in fourth. Both sides enjoyed flawless campaigns in this month’s World Cup qualifiers, winning two matches each. Brazil had a mixed outing with a 2–0 win over Senegal followed by a 1–1 draw against Tunisia. The five-time world champions nonetheless climbed two places to fifth. Portugal and the Netherlands each slipped one spot, moving down to sixth and seventh respectively. Belgium remain eighth, while Germany and Croatia rose one position each to ninth and tenth. Italy endured another setback, falling three places to 12th. The four-time world champions, absent from the past two World Cups, now face renewed pressure as they look toward the playoffs to keep their 2026 hopes alive.    

Bangladesh head coach Javier Cabrera has taken full responsibility for his team’s heartbreaking 4-3 defeat to Hong Kong China in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, but expressed optimism that the men in red and green can bounce back in the return leg and keep their campaign alive. With a stoppage-time goal from Shamit Shome’s header, Bangladesh were moments away from earning a point against a comparatively stronger Hong Kong side at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday. But Raphaël Merkies’s last-minute strike, which was a hat trick for the winger, left the home fans stunned. The result dashed Bangladesh’s realistic hopes of reaching the final round. Bangladesh’s players were devastated after the match, as was head coach Javier Cabrera. Visibly disappointed, Cabrera took full responsibility for the defeat. “I take the responsibility. The whole team take the responsibility, mainly myself. But again, now we need to focus,” Cabrera said at the post-match press conference. With just one point from three matches, Bangladesh now face an uphill battle to qualify, with three fixtures remaining, including an away match against Hong Kong. Their hopes of advancing have largely faded. Still, Cabrera is optimistic about a turnaround: “We still have options. We have another match now in Hong Kong. If we get to win, we are there again, three points away from the top of the group.” Bangladesh lose 4-3 to Hong Kong as last-minute goal dashes Asian Cup hopes The Spanish coach admitted his team’s defensive lapses proved costly, as poor man-marking left the backline vulnerable. However, he added, “Those mistakes were really unfortunate. But that weren’t related to defensive error. “We talked a lot about the offensive players of Hong Kong, and I think we have been able to manage very well for many moments. But in the end, they have good quality, and it can happen. “To me, it is more than the defensive; it's not about the defenders. It's because the situations of those goals have been with not only the defenders in the box defending. I think it's been everyone.” On a question regarding whether his starting line-up selection proved wrong, Cabrera said, “To me, the best part of the match has been the first half without any doubt. The first half is probably the best football we have played since I’m here [in Bangladesh]. So, the line-up was right. The line-up did well.” Deschamps awaits Mbappé’s fitness update ahead of World Cup qualifiers Even so, he lamented a needless mistake in stoppage time that proved too costly for Bangladesh. “That cannot happen and we have to work on these things. If we want to go to the next level, as we are almost there, these kind of mistakes cannot happen. Because, then it is very difficult for us to come back. We did it, we came back again from 3-1 down to 3-3. And again, we could have been more aggressive in that last action,” he lamented. Bangladesh is scheduled to fly to Hong Kong on Friday night to play the return leg against the hosts on October 14, with Jamal Bhuyan leading the team once again.

Bangladeshi-origin English Premier League footballer Hamza Dewan Chowdhury, who is included in the 30-member Bangladesh preliminary squad for the AFC Asian Cup 2025 qualifiers, expressed hope that they will win the ensuing match against India. “It is amazing, amazing, I am very excited to come here after 11 years, I do hope, Inshallah, we will be able to win against India in the ensuing match on March 25”, he said in an immediate reaction after his arrival at Sylhet Osmani International Airport. Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) officials welcomed him with flowers. Executive members of the BFF including Sakhawat Hossain Bhuiyan Shahin, Kamrul Islam Hilton, Golam Ghaus, Iqbal Hossain, Satyajit Das Rupu, Imtiaz Hamid Sabuj, and Manjurul Karim, were present at the airport. Hamza Chowdhury arrives in Bangladesh Hamza's father Morshed Dewan Chowdhury  accompanied him. Murshed Chowdhury said Hamza wears the red-green jersey out of deep love for the country. He said if other players of Bangladeshi origin follow Hamza's example and return home, Bangladesh could have a chance to represent the nation in the 2030 World Cup. From the airport, Hamza travelled to his village home in Bahubal upazila, Habiganj. After spending one or two days at his village home, Hamza will travel to Dhaka on either Tuesday or Wednesday to join the Bangladesh national football team camp. Hamza will attend the Bangladesh team's official press conference at the team hotel in Dhaka on Wednesday (March 19), where he will address the press alongside the team coach and captain. The full squad of the Bangladesh national team including Hamza Chowdhury, is expected to have their final practice session on Wednesday afternoon or evening, following the team’s official photo session. BFF names UCB as sponsor of National Men’s Football team for next five years The national team will fly to Kolkata on Thursday morning (March 20) en route to Shillong for their AFC Asian Cup Qualifier match against India on March 25. Earlier, the Bangladesh football team reached the Saudi Arabian city of Taif about two weeks ago to undergo a 12-day intensive training for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers match against India. Hamza is scheduled to return to London on March 28.  

Bangladesh lost 2-1 against upper ranked Turkmenistan in their keenly contested 2nd Group E match of the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Qualifiers at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. The match was locked in 1-1 goals in the first half. The latest FIFA International ranking of Central Asian country Turkmenistan is 134 against Bangladesh's current ranking 188. With the 2nd consecutive defeats, Bangladesh are almost eliminated from the meet. Also read: AFC Asian Cup qualifiers: Bangladesh lose 0-2 to Bahrain Bangladesh put in strong Group E of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers with Bahrain, Turkmenistan and hosts Malaysia, will play hosts Malaysia on June 14 in the remaining group match. It was also the 2nd successive defeat for Bangladesh against Turkmenistan after suffering 1-3 goals loss in their last meeting in the Busan Asian Games in 2002. In the day's match, Bangladesh fought equally with their giant rivals, specially in the first half with captain Jamal Bhuiyan displaying his brilliance. But, in the 2nd half, Turkmenistan reorganised themselves and created strong pressure over Bangladesh to score the match winner. Although Bangladesh lost the match by a narrow margin, they displayed their best form and fighting speed till the last whistle. The result of the match would have been different if Sazzad Hossain and Tutul Hossain Badsha of Bangladesh did not spoil two easy opportunities, one in each half. In the day's keenly contested match, Defender Altymyrat Annadurdyyev put Turkmenistan ahead in the 7th minute by a cool placing shot from melee, off a corner kick (1-0). But, their leading joy was short-lived as Bangladesh midfielder Mohammad Ibrahim leveled the margin in the 12th minute by a good header from close, utilizing a long throw-in of Bishwanath Ghosh, who came his way from a back header of Rakib (1-1). This is the first goal for Bangladesh national team in their 5th match under new head coach Javier Cabrera. Also read: AFC Asian Cup: Bangladesh to play stronger Bahrain on Wednesday Super sub Amanov Arsalan scored the match-winning goal for Turkmenistan in the 77th minute by an easy placing shot from close (2-1). In the opening Group E match of the ongoing Asian Cup Qualifiers last Wednesday, Bangladesh conceded 0-2 goals defeat against their 99 ranked superior gulf nation Bahrain to repeat their previous results (0-2) after 43 years in tbe President Cup Football in Seoul in 1979. Earlier, Bangladesh came to the limelight forcing 29 ranked superior and hosts Indonesia to play goalless draw in a FIFA International Friendly in Bandung recently, and they also made a good fight with their 99 ranked superior Bahrain, except conceding two goals in span of only eight minutes.