Bangladesh women return home after facing Asia's heavyweights 

 
The Bangladesh women's national football team returned home early Wednesday morning after completing its maiden campaign in the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia.

The team landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 1:45 am on a Thai Airways flight before travelling to the team camp at the BFF House, where the players officially reported upon arrival.

Bangladesh's journey in the continent's premier women's football tournament proved to be a demanding but invaluable learning experience. Drawn in a formidable Group-B, the South Asian side faced some of Asia's most established teams during their historic debut. 

The campaign began with a respectable 2-0 defeat to reigning champions China women's national football team, where Bangladesh produced a spirited defensive display and held their own for large parts of the contest. 

That encouraging performance was followed by a tougher outing against North Korea women's national football team, who eventually secured a 5-0 win after relentless pressure throughout the match.

Bangladesh concluded their group stage journey with a 4-0 loss to Uzbekistan women's national football team in Perth on Monday, bringing their campaign to an end without a point.

Despite the results, the tournament marked a significant milestone for Bangladesh women's football. Playing against some of Asia's highest-ranked sides offered valuable exposure for captain Afeida Khandakar and her teammates as they tested themselves on the continent's biggest stage.

For Bangladesh, the scoreboard may have told a difficult story, but the experience gained in Australia could serve as a stepping stone as the team looks to build towards future international competitions. However, questions remained as why no enough preparation including some practice matches were played before the tournament.