Bangladesh national football team

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Bangladesh

Nickname

Association

Bangladesh Football Federation

Head coach

Diego Cruciani

Most caps

Kazi Salahuddin

Top scorer

Jahangir Hussein

FIFA code

BAN

FIFA ranking

158

Highest FIFA ranking

110 (April 1996)

Lowest FIFA ranking

161 (November 2005)

Elo ranking

180





Home kit





Away kit

First international

Bangladesh 2 - 2 Maldives

(Malaysia; July 26, 1973)

Largest win

Bangladesh 8 - 0 Maldives

(Bangladesh; December 21, 1985)

Worst defeat

South Korea 9 - 0 Bangladesh

(South Korea; September 16, 1979)

AFC Asian Cup

Appearances

1 (First in 1980)

Best result

Round 1, 1980

The Bangladesh national football team is the national team of Bangladesh and is controlled by the Bangladesh Football Federation.It is a member of the AFC. The side has yet to qualify for a FIFA World Cup tournament. They were dismissed in the first round of their only Asian Cup appearance to date in 1980. As is the case elsewhere on the subcontinent, top-level football in Bangladesh is played somewhat in the shadow of the country's test cricket team. The team was founded in 1972, and joined FIFA in 1974.

Apart from their impressive results (wins over Indonesia and Thailand) in their first ever World Cup qualification in 1986, Bangladesh has struggled to impose itself. At the regional level, they have also remained in the second echelon while in Asia, the team is constantly trying to avoid being the wooden spoon of their group.

However, the Association is currently working hand in hand with the Vision Asia programme which will see it restructuring its domestic league as well as initiating more youth programmes. These initiatives are coming at the right time for football in Bangladesh.

Football in Bangladesh has a huge following which was further exemplified when the national team made history in their victory at the South Asian Football Federation Cup in 2003. The South Asia side won the final via penalties over Maldives before 50,000 boisterous home supporters.

It has been a long time since Bangladesh football enjoyed such victories, including a 2-1 semi-final win over arch-rivals and defending champion India. One can only hope that these victories act as catalysts for future successes at the Continental level.

Kazi Salahuddin is Bangladesh's most legendary footballer.