“You can feel the incredible passion for the game the moment you arrive,” said the FIFA President in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka
Mr Infantino was greeted by Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Tabith Awal and a BFF delegation on his second visit to the south Asian country
Discussions focused on continued close collaboration between FIFA and the BFF to further develop the game
Gianni Infantino said he could feel the “incredible passion” for football as soon as he arrived in Bangladesh and praised the work of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) as he met its President Tabith Awal in the capital, Dhaka.
The FIFA President was greeted by Mr Awal and BFF Vice Presidents Md. Nasser Shahrear Zahedee, Md. Wahid Uddin Chowdhury, Sabbir Ahmed Arif and Fahad Karim and BFF General Secretary Emran Hossain Tushar after he touched down at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
“It was a great pleasure meeting Bangladesh Football Federation President Tabith Awal in Dhaka. You can feel the incredible passion for the game the moment you arrive in this true football-loving country,” said Mr Infantino, who first visited Bangladesh in October 2019.
“From their historic victory against San Marino to their valuable participation in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026™, the BFF has shown remarkable determination and progress on the international stage. FIFA remains fully committed to supporting the growth of football across Bangladesh, inspiring millions of passionate young fans and players for years to come.”
Mr Infantino highlighted the local and global significance of the senior men’s national team winning in San Marino in June this year to register a first triumph on European soil in front of an impressive crowd largely comprised of Bangladeshi fans.
“Bangladesh won against San Marino 2-1 and it was a big, big, big celebration in San Marino, in neighbouring Italy, for the fans, for the players, for everyone involved,” said the FIFA President. “It shows how football unites the world. It shows how football has a big impact everywhere. And I'm really grateful to everyone here in Bangladesh for the fantastic work that is done and there is more to come.”
Since his election as BFF President in October 2024, Mr Awal has accelerated the upward trajectory of Bangladeshi football with impressive results. The senior women’s national team qualified for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup – their first-ever participation in the tournament – while their male counterparts gained invaluable competitive international experience when they took part in the first FIFA ASEAN Cup during the September-October 2026 international window.
The men’s U-17 team came close to reaching their age category continental showpiece this year for the first time since 2006, adding further impetus to the BFF’s youth development strategy, which has been a primary focus of their collaboration with FIFA in recent years.
The BFF has invested a significant portion of the USD 1.73 million they have received in FIFA Forward funding so far into projects that aim to shape the future of the game across all of Bangladesh’s 64 districts.
In addition, Bangladesh will be represented among the FIFA Member Associations taking part in this month’s inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival™.
The BFF’s work has been recognised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), who upgraded the organisation from Bronze to Silver status under its AFC Grassroots Charter in April 2026. The BFF has also been nominated in the Ruby category for AFC Member Association of the Year and the Silver category for the AFC President’s Recognition Award for Grassroots Football at the AFC Awards 2026, which will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, next month.
“With exciting plans for youth academies, infrastructure and school programmes now underway, the future of football in this passionate nation is brighter than ever,” said Mr Infantino. “I look forward to returning soon to Bangladesh to see these projects come to life.”