FIFA President Gianni Infantino has described Bangladesh as a "true football-loving country," expressing his admiration for the nation's passionate fanbase during a visit to the capital, Dhaka, where he met Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Tabith Awal.

Infantino was welcomed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by Awal alongside BFF Vice Presidents Md. Nasser Shahrear Zahedee, Md. Wahid Uddin Chowdhury, Sabbir Ahmed Arif, and Fahad Karim, as well as BFF General Secretary Emran Hossain Tushar. It marked Infantino's second visit to Bangladesh, having first travelled there in October 2019.

"You can feel the incredible passion for the game the moment you arrive in this true football-loving country," said Infantino. "FIFA remains fully committed to supporting the growth of football across Bangladesh, inspiring millions of passionate young fans and players for years to come."

San Marino triumph and the ASEAN Cup

Infantino singled out Bangladesh's historic 2-1 victory over San Marino in June this year — the national team's first win on European soil — as a defining moment for the country's football identity. A significant portion of the crowd in San Marino was made up of Bangladeshi supporters.

"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," Infantino said. "It shows how football unites the world."

The men's senior side also gained competitive experience during the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026™, held during the September–October 2026 international window.

Women's team and youth development

Since Awal's election as BFF President in October 2024, Bangladeshi football has moved forward on multiple fronts. The senior women's national team qualified for the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup — their first-ever appearance in that tournament — while the men's U-17 side came within reach of their age-group continental championship for the first time since 2006.

The BFF has channelled a substantial share of the USD 1.73 million received in FIFA Forward funding into football development projects spanning all 64 of Bangladesh's districts. The country will also be represented at this month's inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival™.

Regional recognition and what comes next

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recognised the BFF's progress by upgrading the federation from Bronze to Silver status under its AFC Grassroots Charter in April 2026. The BFF has also received nominations 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, scheduled to 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 Infantino, adding that he looks forward to returning to Bangladesh to see those projects come to life.