Bangladesh face a formidable challenge today (Friday) at 8:00am (BST) as they take on in their second Group-B match of the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup at Western Sydney Stadium in Sydney, Australia.
After a spirited display in their opening fixture against nine-time champions China, Bangladesh head into the contest with renewed belief, though fully aware of the scale of the task. North Korea, three-time Asian champions and currently ranked ninth in the world, began their campaign in emphatic fashion with a 3-0 win over Uzbekistan and sit atop the group with three points.
Bangladesh, ranked 112th in the FIFA standings, are placed third in the group after their 2-0 defeat to China. Yet the performance against the nine-time champions drew praise for the team's resilience and organisation.
Bangladesh head coach struck a realistic tone ahead of the encounter. Coach Butler said at the pre-match press conference in Sydney, "North Korea are the highest-ranked team in our group. We are here again to face a very, very strong team. They are technically skilled and really talented,"
"If you look at their FIFA ranking, they are probably one of the favourites for this tournament. I'm a realist and I know that winning this match will be a big challenge for us in many ways. But the main thing is to give your best and keep your individuality," he added.
Bangladesh captain echoed the sentiment, saying the team's focus would be on correcting the mistakes made in the opening match against China while following the tactical instructions of their coach.
Interestingly, the North Korean camp also acknowledged Bangladesh's attacking threat. Their coach noted that the South Asian side possess pace in forward areas and warned his defenders to remain alert.
Bangladesh completed their final preparations with a focused training session at Jubilee Stadium, working on possession play, set-piece organisation and finishing drills, the final brushstrokes before another demanding examination on Asia's grand stage.
