'Less about the result': Bangladesh seek credibility against DPR Korea

Although the 20th Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games officially open on September 19, Bangladesh’s campaign begins today, with the women’s football team taking on three-time champions DPR Korea at Nagai Stadium.

Bangladesh, who qualified automatically as participants in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, are the lowest-ranked side in the 12-team competition at 107th in the FIFA rankings, 96 places below DPR Korea.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The women in red and green have had a solid build-up for their second Asian Games appearance, combining home training with a 10-day camp in China that included two practice matches.

But British coach Peter Butler is keeping expectations grounded, particularly after Bangladesh suffered a 5-0 defeat to the same opponents at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia in March.

“We’re playing against a Korean team blessed with really good players. They are well-funded and well-resourced. We played them last time at the Asian Cup and lost 5-0. We didn’t play particularly well, but it was a great learning experience for our young players,” Butler said yesterday.

“For us, it is less about the result and more about credibility. We have to be realistic and pragmatic about what we expect. We want to give a good account of ourselves, put in a positive performance and show what we can do.”

Butler will demand greater defensive organisation against a DPR Korea side that repeatedly exposed Bangladesh’s backline in March, despite being held scoreless in the first half.

“Our plan? We don’t have a real specific plan, but it’s to give a good account of ourselves and be honest with ourselves. Nobody gives us a cat in hell’s chance or any hope of winning, and that may be the case. But it’s all about learning, credibility, and putting in a positive shift and a positive performance tomorrow,” Butler concluded.