Brazil want to play Bangladesh in October

The arrival of a five-member Brazilian delegation directly from the airport at the National Stadium yesterday, Sunday, followed by an inspection of everything from the pitch and dressing rooms to the stands and media box, has fuelled hopes of a major possibility.

Now, that possibility appears to be gaining momentum. Brazil’s national football team wants to come to Dhaka and play against Bangladesh after the FIFA ASEAN Cup.

The September FIFA international window will end on 6 October. Within that period, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has proposed playing a friendly against Bangladesh at the National Stadium in Dhaka. A responsible source from Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) said this to Prothom Alo.

Brazil have proposed holding the match on either 5 or 6 October. The five-time world champions want to travel to Dhaka with a delegation of around 90 people to play the match against Bangladesh.

The ASEAN Cup final will be held in Indonesia on 3 October. The tournament begins on 24 September, and Bangladesh are scheduled to play three group-stage matches. Taking the national team’s busy schedule into consideration, the BFF has not yet given Brazil a final response.

A five-member Brazilian delegation arrived in Dhaka yesterday as part of preparations for their tour of India. They travelled directly from the airport to the National Stadium. After inspecting almost the entire stadium, they also visited Bashundhara Kings Arena. Later that evening, they met BFF president Tabith Awal.

Brazil will play a friendly against India’s national team in Kolkata on 3 October. The Indian Football Federation had originally withdrawn from the FIFA ASEAN Cup mainly to accommodate this match. FIFA subsequently invited Bangladesh to take India’s place.

Brazil’s national football team have never visited Bangladesh. On 6 September 2011, Lionel Messi’s Argentina came to Dhaka to play a friendly against Nigeria at the National Stadium.