The race for the runners-up position remains wide open.

Bangladesh football team captain Jamal Bhuiyan said his lifelong support for Brazil was reignited as he came face to face with the FIFA World Cup trophy in Dhaka, describing the experience as emotional, inspiring and deeply personal.

Perera spoke to The Daily Star's Anisur Rahman about Fortis' performance, the Bangladesh Football League, his own form, and the recent progress of the Bangladesh and Sri Lanka national teams.

The Football Association of Maldives (FAM) has invited the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) to take part in a Four-Nation Invitational international football tournament scheduled for June–July, as FAM prepares to mark the diamond jubilee of Maldivian football.

As the world stepped into 2026, Bangladesh's leading sports figures struck a delicate balance between grief and grit, using the new year not merely for celebration, but for reflection, responsibility, and renewed ambition.

In 2025, Bangladesh witnessed a dramatic homecoming -- one that, even a few years back, few believed would be possible.

It would be easy to begin with cliches: underdogs, fairy tales, David and Goliath. However, the story of Bangladesh women’s football in 2025 refuses the comfort of familiar labels.

Not too long ago, finding a Bangladesh national football team jersey in Dhaka felt like a scavenger hunt. European club jerseys dominated shop displays, while cricket shirts filled whatever space remained. Bangladesh football team jerseys, if available at all, were tucked away in corners.

The quota for foreign players has been increased to four from two -- featured in the last edition held in March–April last year -- although only three can feature in a single match.

They now turn their attention to their fifth and final match, against hosts China, on Sunday.

Excitement is at fever pitch in Dinajpur and Sirajganj, with supporters from both districts travelling to Dhaka in hired buses to cheer their teams.

Since March 2025, Hamza has managed the improbable and unthinkable, doing so with a style and spirit that has turned an entire era mythic.

Asked to place the latest victory alongside his English FA Cup win with Leicester City, he replied that the significance was incomparable.

From jerseys to flags and food, Bangladesh's international football fixtures have become a thriving ecosystem for small businesses, showing how national pride can ripple through local communities.

As Bangladesh players celebrated the win, it felt as though two eras quietly touched hands.

Bangladesh’s recent performances against India and other stronger teams, combined with the influx of overseas-based footballers over the past year, have raised public expectations despite the team’s modest global ranking.

Sheikh Morsalin ended Bangladesh’s long wait for a victory against India with an 11th-minute strike, as the hosts secured their first win of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign with a 1-0 triumph at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday.

With 95 goals in 157 international appearances, Chhetri is the fourth-highest goal scorer in international football, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Ali Daei.

Bangladesh now turn their focus to the crucial Asian Cup Qualifier against India on November 18, with both players expected to be available barring any setbacks.

Bangladesh’s display, built around brief flashes of quality from Hamza, again exposed familiar flaws -- inconsistency, defensive fragility, and the inability to close out matches.