Infantino stopped in Dhaka for around two hours while travelling from Morocco to Bhutan. During the transit, Awal and a BFF delegation met the head of world football’s governing body to discuss Bangladesh’s future cooperation with FIFA and several development initiatives.
Speaking after the meeting, Awal described the encounter as positive and said Infantino had recorded a video message for the people of Bangladesh.
“We were able to speak to him with a delegation from the Bangladesh Football Federation during his two-hour transit. He also left a video message for Bangladesh. Overall, we had a very good meeting,” Awal said.
The discussions focused primarily on how Bangladesh could work more closely with FIFA to advance football development. According to the BFF president, Infantino asked about Bangladesh’s experience in the ASEAN Cup and whether the country would be interested in participating in similar tournaments in the future.
The conversation also covered opportunities for Bangladesh to play more matches against teams from Europe and other confederations. Awal said the country wanted to broaden its international exposure and explore ways to make better use of FIFA international match windows.
Greater access to fixtures against teams from different regions could help Bangladesh gain valuable competitive experience. Such matches would also offer opportunities to assess the national side against a wider range of playing styles, although arranging them would depend on the availability of opponents and suitable international windows.
Unspent FIFA funds and infrastructure projects
The use of funds allocated under FIFA’s Forward Programme was another key subject. Awal said some of the money remained unspent, while the relevant projects were still being prepared.
He expressed hope that progress on the projects would accelerate, allowing Infantino to visit Bangladesh officially and inaugurate them.
Awal identified several initiatives that could provide a basis for a future visit by the FIFA president. These include starting work on a technical centre, developing a hybrid pitch in Sylhet, and renovating two stadiums, including the installation of floodlighting.
“The president is ready to come at any time,” Awal said, referring to the prospect of Infantino visiting Bangladesh once work on the projects begins.
The proposed facilities could help improve the conditions available for training and competition. A technical centre would provide an important base for football development, while improved pitches, renovated stadiums and better lighting could support training sessions and matches under more suitable conditions. However, the projects remain dependent on preparations moving forward and implementation getting under way.
Renewable energy and school sports initiatives
Awal also briefed Infantino on plans to use solar power and other renewable energy sources to illuminate stadiums. The proposal forms part of the federation’s broader plans for developing football facilities.
He also outlined an initiative to make sports compulsory in schools from Class Four. According to Awal, Infantino showed considerable enthusiasm for these plans and the progress reported by the federation.
Introducing regular sports activities at an early stage of education could help children develop physical fitness and create wider opportunities to identify promising young players. The effectiveness of such an initiative, however, would depend on how it is implemented, including the availability of suitable facilities and people capable of delivering sports activities.
The proposed use of renewable energy could also help stadiums explore more sustainable approaches to their lighting requirements. The extent of any benefits would depend on the facilities installed and the eventual implementation of the plans.
FIFA election was not discussed
Awal made it clear that the meeting did not cover the FIFA presidential election or political issues. Instead, he said, the discussion remained focused on football development and future cooperation.
He added that the BFF was waiting to see who submitted nominations for the FIFA presidency by 18 November. The federation might consider its position after the candidates became clearer.
Asked how much importance FIFA attached to Bangladesh, Awal said he believed the country’s football had received significant priority. He expressed confidence that the information Infantino had gathered during the meeting would give him a positive impression of the progress being made.
The BFF president also voiced hope that FIFA would provide further assistance to Bangladesh as the federation pursued its development plans.
He pointed to Bangladesh’s participation in FIFA events as evidence of the federation’s commitment to international football. In his view, this involvement demonstrated that the BFF was serious about the sport and that the government was enthusiastic about supporting its development.
The meeting offered Bangladesh an opportunity to present its priorities directly to FIFA’s leadership. Turning the discussions into tangible improvements will depend on the progress of infrastructure projects, effective use of allocated funds and continued cooperation between the federation, the government and FIFA.
