Brazil reportedly plans to face Bangladesh in a friendly match on October 6.
Five-time world champions Brazil are reportedly considering a friendly match against Bangladesh in Dhaka on October 6, according to several reports.
A five-member delegation from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) unexpectedly visited Dhaka on Sunday. During the visit, they inspected facilities at the National Stadium and Bashundhara Kings Arena before meeting Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Tabith Awal later that evening.
Reports emerged late Sunday night that Brazil are interested in playing Bangladesh on October 6, the final day of the FIFA international window. However, neither the CBF delegation nor the BFF has officially confirmed the proposed fixture.
The FIFA international window runs from September 19 to October 6, allowing teams to play a maximum of four matches during the period. Brazil are scheduled to play two friendlies in Australia on September 25 and 29, followed by a match against India in Kolkata on October 3.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, are scheduled to compete in the FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia from September 24 to October 4. They are expected to play at least four matches in the tournament, meaning they would already use their full match quota for the international window, potentially creating complications over FIFA recognition of a match against Brazil on October 6.
Bangladesh were invited to participate in the ASEAN Cup after replacing India, who opted to prioritise their high-profile friendly against Brazil.
Hosting Brazil would also involve significant costs for the BFF. Reports suggest the federation may have to arrange chartered travel for Brazil’s 90-member delegation from Kolkata to Dhaka and subsequently to Dubai.
Earlier on Sunday, BFF grounds committee chairman Iqbal Hossain said the visiting Brazilian delegation was evaluating the National Stadium both as a potential neutral venue for Brazil and as a possible venue for a match against Bangladesh.
According to Hossain, the delegation indicated that the stadium could be used as a neutral venue for Brazil’s matches against other national teams and that Brazil could also play Bangladesh there.