Once a side note in Bangladesh’s sports story, football is now slowly reclaiming its former glory. While cricket remains the national obsession, signs of a football renaissance are clear—especially in the growing popularity of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL Football), the youth national teams’ performances, and grassroots efforts across districts.
Bangladesh’s football history is rich. In the 1980s, Dhaka’s football leagues drew massive crowds, with names like Abahani and Mohammedan dominating headlines. But over the years, mismanagement and lack of infrastructure saw football decline in popularity. That is changing now. The BPL is attracting better foreign players, local clubs are improving professionalism, and the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has begun investing more seriously in youth development.
One major turning point was the performance of the U-19 and U-23 teams in recent regional tournaments. These teams showed hunger, stamina, and most importantly—teamwork. Another key development has been women’s football. The national women’s team winning the SAFF Championship in 2022 marked a proud moment and shifted public focus toward inclusivity in the sport.
Challenges remain, of course—poor pitches, irregular club payments, and lack of fan facilities still haunt the system. But social media, local content creators, and football-centric pages like FootyBangla are playing a role in keeping interest alive.
With strategic support, sponsorship, and patience, Bangladesh’s dream of competing with Asian giants like India, Japan, or even qualifying for major tournaments might not be as distant as it once seemed.
