‘Want to bring trophy home by beating India’

Bangladesh are looking to regain the SAFF U-20 Championship title when they square off against defending champions India in the final at the National Football Stadium in Male, Maldives, on Friday.

The match will kick off at 9:00 pm.

India have established their supremacy in regional youth competitions by lifting the title four times in seven editions, frustrating Bangladesh three times in the final before Bangladesh lifted the trophy in the 2024 edition after beating Nepal in the final and India in the semifinal.

Interestingly, Bangladesh have never beaten India in the final of the tournament at any level. At the age level, Bangladesh suffered defeats in 2019 (U-18), 2022 (U-20), and 2025 (U-19), while the national team lost both their finals against India -- in 1999 and 2005.

However, Bangladesh’s age-level sides have beaten India in the group stage a couple of times.

Meanwhile, the charges of Irish coach Mark Cox played out a 1-1 draw against India in the group stage of this edition.

“I said before that we always like to play against India and want to bring the trophy home by beating them. So, that historic moment is upon us, with the final taking place tomorrow [today]. It is a do-or-die affair, and we are ready for it,” said Bangladesh captain Mithu Chowdhury in a video clip sent by the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF).

“When we take on India, different things work inside us because we consider them our rivals. So we always try to give our level best against India, and our efforts will remain the same in tomorrow’s [today’s] match,” said Mithu, who also expects a big expatriate crowd in the final.

“It feels like a home ground because the expatriate brothers come to support us every match, and I hope the number of spectators will be double in the final, which will also boost us to display a good show,” Mithu added.

The return of Irish coach Mark Cox, who was suspended for one match, to the dugout will also boost the men in red and green, while the team will definitely bank on US-based forward Ronan Sullivan, who struck twice against Pakistan in the group stage.