Bangladesh in Group C with India in Asian Cup Qualifiers
Bangladesh and India have been placed in the same group in the third round of the Asian Cup qualifiers. The draw took place today (Monday, December 9) at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Bangladesh was placed in Group C, along with India, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The final stage of the 2027 Asian Cup will be hosted in Saudi Arabia.
Tournament Format
A total of 24 teams will compete in six groups in the Asian Cup qualifiers, with each group comprising four teams. Matches will follow the home-and-away format. After six matches, the champion of each group will qualify for the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia next year.
The draw was based on FIFA rankings published on November 28, with the 24 teams divided into four boxes. Bangladesh, being lower-ranked, was placed in Box 4.
Draw Process
Teams were drawn starting from Box 4. As Bangladesh's name was the third to be drawn, they were placed in Group C. Following this, teams from Boxs 3, 2, and 1 were drawn, placing Singapore, Hong Kong (China), and India in Bangladesh's group, respectively.
Match Schedule
The six matches of the Asian Cup qualifiers will take place between March 2025 and March 2026. Bangladesh's first match will be against India, the highest-ranked team in the group. Since India is the group's top seed, Bangladesh will travel to India for the opening match.
Match Dates for Bangladesh
- March 25, 2025: India vs Bangladesh
- June 10, 2025: Bangladesh vs Singapore
- October 9, 2025: Bangladesh vs Hong Kong
- October 14, 2025: Hong Kong vs Bangladesh
- November 18, 2025: Bangladesh vs India
- March 31, 2026: Singapore vs Bangladesh
Historical Context
Bangladesh has participated in the Asian Cup only once, in 1980, and has since failed to progress past the qualifiers. The Asian Cup now features the top 24 teams from Asia.
The first phase of the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers is held jointly. Eighteen teams advancing to the second phase of the World Cup qualifiers from Asia automatically qualify for the Asian Cup. The remaining six slots are determined through these 24-team qualifiers.
The draw event at AFC headquarters was conducted by Deputy Secretary-General Shin Man Gil, alongside other AFC officials and representatives from host Saudi Arabia.
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