Bangladesh were drawn with hosts Myanmar, Bahrain, and Turkmenistan in Group C of the upcoming AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers as the draw of 34-team, split into eight groups, was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia today.

The qualifiers will be played from June 23 to July 5. The champions of each group will advance to join automatic qualifiers China, Korea Republic, Japan and Australia in the 12-team final round to be held from March 1 to 26, 2026 in three hosts cities.

It is set to be a tough challenge for Bangladesh, who are behind in the FIFA rankings compared to hosts Myanmar and Bahrain. Only Turkmenistan, ranked 141, are behind 133rd-ranked Bangladesh. Placed 55th in the FIFA rankings, Myanmar are the top-ranked side in this group, while Bahrain are 92nd in the rankings.

Bangladesh senior women's team never faced Bahrain and Turkmenistan but they lost 5-0 to Myanmar in the 2018 edition.

"We have been placed in a very tough group as Myanmar and Bahrain are strong opponents. However, we will be trying our best to get out of the group," Bangladesh Football Federation women's wing chairman Mahfuza Akter Kiron told The Daily Star yesterday.

The local game's governing body has already decided to start the preparation camp of the national women's team from April 6 with 55 players, including 18 senior players who were not part of two friendly matches against United Arab Emirates. 

Kiron also informed that they are trying to arrange two friendly matches before starting the AFC Women's Cup Qualifying campaign in Myanmar in June.

"We have already written to three nations – Myanmar, Malaysia and Singapore – for playing two friendly matches ahead of the qualifiers but none of them has responded yet," said Kiron.

Group A will see Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Singapore and Bhutan battling it out while Thailand, India, Mongolia, Timor-Leste and Iraq were drawn in Group B.

Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Kyrgyz Republic and Pakistan will fight it out in Group D.

Vietnam, Guam, United Arab Emirates and Maldives will slug it out in Group E while Group F will see Uzbekistan, Nepal, Laos and Sri Lanka in action.

Group G will feature Philippines, Hong Kong, China, Cambodia and Saudi Arabia while Group H will see DPR Korea, Malaysia, Palestine and Tajikistan competing for the ticket to the finals.