The countdown to the 23rd FIFA World Cup has begun, with FIFA kicking things off two years in advance on June 11th, 2026. However, for Bangladesh's football team, this day also marked the end of their own World Cup qualification journey, and a rather sobering one at that.
The Red and Greens, as they're affectionately known, suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Lebanon on Tuesday, leaving them firmly rooted at the bottom of Group I. Their campaign has been a tale of woe, with a solitary point to show for their six outings. More concerningly, they've conceded a staggering 20 goals while managing just one in reply.
Football, after all, is a game of goals, and Bangladesh's inability to find the net has been their Achilles' heel. Their conversion rate in these qualifiers stands at a meagre 0.17 goals per game, while conceding a hefty 3.66 per match. This lack of firepower isn't a recent phenomenon; throughout their World Cup qualification history dating back to 1986, Bangladesh has averaged a mere 0.62 goals per game, scoring just 41 in 66 matches. Conversely, they've leaked a staggering 166 goals, an average of 2.51 per encounter.
From 2002 to 2026, Bangladesh managed just 21 goals in seven qualifying campaigns. This is only slightly better than the 20 goals scored in the four qualifiers between 1986 and 1998.
The statistics don't lie when it comes to their struggles in front of goal. Only one of Bangladesh's 41 World Cup qualification goals has been an own goal, and just three players – Zahid Hasan Ameli, Mamun Joarder, and Alfaz Ahmed – have managed more than three goals in this arena. Ten players have scored twice, but only Sujan, Alfaz, and Mamun Joarder have achieved the feat of a brace in a single match.
Adding insult to injury, Bangladesh's win record in World Cup qualifiers has also declined sharply. In the four World Cup qualification campaigns between 1986 and 1998, they secured six victories. However, in the subsequent seven attempts, they've only managed five wins, with just one coming in a main World Cup qualifier (a 3-0 win over Mongolia in 2001). The remaining four victories came against weaker opposition in pre-qualification or playoff matches.
The road to the World Cup remains a distant dream for Bangladesh. While there are mitigating factors to consider, such as the strength of their opponents and tactical approaches, the statistics paint a picture of a team struggling to find the net and convert chances. Addressing this fundamental weakness will be crucial if they are to have any hope of progressing in future World Cup qualification campaigns.
