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Bangladesh Football League

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Bangladesh Football League
Organising bodiesBangladesh Football Federation (BFF)
Founded2 March 2007; 19 years ago (2007-03-02)
CountryBangladesh
ConfederationAFC
Number of clubs13
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toBangladesh Championship League
Domestic cup(s)Super Cup
Challenge Cup
Federation Cup
Independence Cup
International cupAFC Challenge League
Current championsBashundhara Kings (6th title)
(2025–26)
Most championshipsDhaka Abahani
Bashundhara Kings
(6 title each)
Most appearancesBangladesh Nasiruddin Chowdhury (225+)
Top scorerNigeria Sunday Chizoba (132)
Broadcaster(s)T Sports
Current: 2026–27 Bangladesh Football League

The Bangladesh Football League (BFL) (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ ফুটবল লিগ) is the top tier of the Bangladeshi football league system. It is run by the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF). The Dhaka derby between Dhaka Abahani and Mohammedan is one of the league's most popular matches.[1]

The BFL superseded the Dhaka Premier Division League, which had functioned as the top tier from 1948 to 2006.[2][3][4][5] The league name was changed from Bangladesh Premier League to Bangladesh Football League in 2025[6] because the spelling clashed with the similarly named cricket league.

History

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Origins

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Before the establishment of the professional football league, the semi-professional Dhaka Premier Division League functioned as Bangladesh's top-tier competition from 1993 onward. Prior to that, the Dhaka First Division League (relegated to second-tier status in 1993) was the country's highest level of football from 1948, following the partition of India and even before Bangladesh's independence. Historically, the Dhaka Football League consisted of three-tiers, with the Pioneer Football League introduced in 1981 as a fourth tier. A separate Fourth Division also briefly existed within the Dhaka League system between 1966 and 1969.

From 2000 to 2006, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) operated the National Football League, the first nationwide open competition. However, despite its national scope, it was considered less prestigious than the regional Dhaka Premier Division League, which remained officially recognized as the top tier until 2007.

Professional league

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Founded in 2007 as Bangladesh's first professional national football league, the Bangladesh Football League (BFL) was initially launched as the B.League. It was renamed the Bangladesh League in 2009 and rebranded as the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in 2012. In 2025, the competition adopted its current name.

The first league match took place on 2 March 2007 between Dhaka Abahani and Muktijoddha Sangsad KC at the National Stadium in Dhaka, ending in a goalless draw.[7] The next day in Khulna, Prashanta Dey scored the first goal in the history of professional football in the country as Khulna Abahani blanked the capital side Rahmatganj MFS 2–0.[8] On 27 March 2007, Alfaz Ahmed netted the first hat trick in B League history to give Muktijoddha a 4–1 win over Rahmatganj.[9]

Dhaka Abahani has won the league a record six times since 2007. In the 2015–16 season, Dhaka Abahani also became the first team to win the professional league title with an unbeaten record.[10] In the 2023–24 season, Bashundhara Kings became the first team to win five consecutive league titles.[11]

The league was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and a limited program of matches was in place through 2021. On 12 February 2022, it was announced that the league would return to its normal home-and-away format.[12]

Structure

[edit]
As of February 2025.
Level Division Class
1 Bangladesh Football League
10 clubs
downward-facing red arrow teams relegated		 Professional
2 Bangladesh Championship League
10 clubs
upward-facing green arrow 2 teams promoted
downward-facing red arrow 2 teams relegated
3 Dhaka Senior Division League
18 clubs
upward-facing green arrow 4 teams promoted
downward-facing red arrow 2 teams relegated		 Semi-professional
4 Dhaka Second Division League
15 clubs
upward-facing green arrow 2 teams promoted
downward-facing red arrow 2 teams relegated
5 Dhaka Third Division League
15 clubs
upward-facing green arrow 2 teams promoted
downward-facing red arrow 2 teams relegated
6 Bangladesh Pioneer League
Unlimited number of clubs
upward-facing green arrow 4 teams promoted
No relegation		 Amateur

Competition format

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Competition

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There are 10 clubs in the BFL as of the 2025–26 season. During the course of a season (from September to April), each club plays the others twice (a double round-robin system), once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for 18 games. The winning team in a match shall be awarded 3 points, with the losing team receiving no points. If the match ends in a draw, each team shall receive 1 point. The number of goals scored and conceded by each team shall also be recorded.

At the end of the season, the ranking of teams shall be determined first by the total number of points won.

In situations where 2 teams are equal on points for the champion or bottom positions, a playoff shall be held. Both teams shall play one home and one away match. If the teams remain level on points after the second leg, extra time of two periods of 15 minutes each shall be played as part of the second-leg match. If still tied after extra time, kicks from the penalty mark shall determine the winner. The play-off match or matches shall be organized within 7 days of the last league match.

In situations where more than 2 teams are tied on points for the champion or bottom positions, their rankings shall be determined in the following order:[13]

  • Greater number of points obtained in league matches between the tied teams;
  • Goal difference from league matches between the tied teams;
  • Greater number of goals scored in league matches between the tied teams;
  • Goal difference in all league matches;
  • Fewer disciplinary points based on yellow and red cards (Yellow Card = 1 point; Two Yellows leading to Red = 2 points; Direct Red = 3 points; Yellow + Direct Red = 4 points);
  • Toss of a coin.

For all other league positions, if teams are equal on points, ranking shall be determined first by goal difference (goals scored minus goals conceded in all matches). If still equal, the team with the greater number of goals scored shall rank higher. If still equal, the team with fewer disciplinary points (same card scoring system as above) shall rank higher. If still equal after all criteria, ranking shall be determined by a toss of a coin.

Promotion and relegation

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A system of promotion and relegation has existed between the Bangladesh Football League and the Bangladesh Championship League since 2012. Each season, the two lowest-placed teams in the Bangladesh Football League are relegated to the second-tier professional league, the Championship League, while the top two teams from the Championship League are promoted to the top tier, only if they meet the BFF Club Licensing Regulations for the following season.[14]

Before 2012, the winners of the Dhaka Senior Division League were expected to earn promotion to the professional league. However, Senior Division clubs were unable to obtain the necessary professional league licenses, which meant that promotion and relegation did not function consistently until the 2011–12 season. Notably, in 2009, the lone edition of the Bashundhara Club Cup Championship took place, with the champions and runners-up granted entry into the 2009–10 edition.[15]

Relegation Summary
Edition Participants Relegated positions Relegated 1 Relegated 2 Withdrew Relegated to
2007 11 No relegation
2008–09 11 11th Khulna Abahani None Regional League
2009–10 13 12th & 13th Narayanganj Suktara Sangsad Beanibazar SC None Regional League
2010 12 11th & 12th Chittagong Mohammedan Chittagong Abahani None 2011–12 BCL
2011–12 11 10th & 11th Farashganj SC Rahmatganj MFS None 2013 BCL
2012–13 9 9th Arambagh KS None Cox City FC 2014 BCL
2013–14 10 10th Uttar Baridhara None 2014–15 BCL
2014–15 11 11th Farashganj SC None 2015–16 BCL
2015–16 12 11th & 12th Feni SC Uttar Baridhara None 2017 BCL
2017–18 12 12th Farashganj SC None Fakirerpool YMC 2018–19 BCL
2018–19 13 13th NoFeL SC Team BJMC None 2019–20 BCL
2019–20 13 Competition abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh
2020–21 13 12th & 13th Arambagh KS[a] Brothers Union None 2019–20 BCL
2021–22 12 11th & 12th Uttar Baridhara[b] Swadhinata KS None 2022–23 BCL
2022–23 11 10th & 11th Muktijoddha Sangsad KC AFC Uttara Saif SC 2023–24 BCL
2023–24 10 No relegation
2024–25 10 9th & 10th Dhaka Wanderers Chittagong Abahani Sheikh Jamal DC & Sheikh Russel KC 2024–25 BCL
2025–26 10 9th & 10th Arambagh KS Fakirerpool YMC None 2026–27 BCL

Bold indicates that the club withdrew from participating in the second tier the following season.

Player regulations

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As of the 2025–26 season, each participating club is entitled to register a maximum of thirty-six players, including a minimum of three goalkeepers. Clubs may register up to five foreign players, with no more than three permitted on the pitch simultaneously. In addition, teams may register up to four SAARC players, all of whom are classified as local and eligible to play. The rules also require each club to include five age-level local players in its squad, with at least one mandated to appear in the starting eleven for every match. The season also saw the removal of the AFC player quota that had been implemented since 2018–19.[16][17]

In both the 2023–24 season and the 2024–25 season, clubs were allowed to register up to a maximum of six foreign players.[18] If a club registered more than five foreign players, then the sixth had to be from an Asian Football Confederation (AFC)-affiliated Member Association. Additionally, in the 2024–25 season, amidst political unrest, clubs were permitted to register a maximum of forty players, including foreign players. Between the 2018–19 and 2021–22 seasons, a maximum of four foreign players were allowed, with the fourth required to be from an AFC-affiliated Member Association.[c]

In the 2010 season, the foreign quota was set at five players; however, after numerous national players were benched throughout the campaign, the Professional League Committee reduced the quota to four players from the 2011–12 season.[20] The foreign quota was further reduced to three players from the 2014–15 season.[21] In the 2015–16 season, clubs were allowed to register four foreign players, with three permitted on the pitch simultaneously. In the 2017–18 season, the quota was reduced back to three players; however, only two were eligible to play in a match at the same time.[22]

Clubs

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Champions

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Wins by seasons
Edition Season Champions Runners–up Third place Ref.
1 2007Dhaka AbahaniDhaka MohammedanMuktijoddha Sangsad KC[23]
2 2008–09Dhaka AbahaniDhaka MohammedanSheikh Russel KC[24]
3 2009–10Dhaka AbahaniDhaka MohammedanSheikh Russel KC[25]
4 2010Sheikh Jamal DCMuktijoddha Sangsad KCSheikh Russel KC[26]
5 2011–12Dhaka AbahaniMuktijoddha Sangsad KCDhaka Mohammedan[27]
6 2012–13Sheikh Russel KCSheikh Jamal DCDhaka Abahani[28]
7 2013–14Sheikh Jamal DCDhaka AbahaniMuktijoddha Sangsad KC[29]
8 2014–15Sheikh Jamal DCSheikh Russel KCDhaka Mohammedan[30]
9 2015–16Dhaka AbahaniChittagong AbahaniSheikh Russel KC[31]
10 2017–18Dhaka AbahaniSheikh Jamal DCChittagong Abahani[32]
11 2018–19Bashundhara KingsDhaka AbahaniSheikh Russel KC[33]
12 2019–20Competition abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh[34]
13 2020–21Bashundhara KingsSheikh Jamal DCDhaka Abahani[35]
14 2021–22Bashundhara KingsDhaka AbahaniSaif SC[36]
15 2022–23Bashundhara KingsDhaka AbahaniBangladesh Police[37]
16 2023–24Bashundhara KingsDhaka MohammedanDhaka Abahani[38]
17 2024–25Dhaka MohammedanDhaka AbahaniBashundhara Kings[39]
18 2025–26Bashundhara KingsDhaka AbahaniFortis FC
Club
 Winner Runners–up Winning seasons Runners–up seasons
Dhaka Abahani6 6 2007, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2015–16, 2017–18 2013–14, 2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2024–25, 2025–26
Bashundhara Kings 6 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2025–26
Sheikh Jamal DC3 3 2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15 2012–13, 2017–18, 2020–21
Mohammedan SC 1 4 2024–25 2007, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2023–24
Sheikh Russel KC1 1 2012–13 2014–15
Muktijoddha SKC 2 2010, 2011–12
Chittagong Abahani 1 2015–16

Italics indicate former champions of the Bangladesh Football League who are currently outside the competition.

2026–27 season

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The following 13 clubs will compete in the Bangladesh Football League during the 2026–27 season
Current clubs
Team District Stadium Location Capacity Founded Head coach Team captain
Arambagh KS Dhaka Gopalganj Old Stadium Gopalganj 5,000 1958
Bangladesh Police FC Dhaka Shaheed Barkat Stadium Gazipur 5,000 Bangladesh S. M. Asifuzzaman Bangladesh Manik Hossain Molla
Bashundhara Kings Dhaka Bashundhara Kings Arena Dhaka 6,000 2013 Bangladesh Bayazid Alam Zubair Nipu Bangladesh Topu Barman
Brothers Union Dhaka Gopalganj Old Stadium Gopalganj 5,000 1949 Bangladesh K.M. Zabid Hossain Bangladesh Jamal Bhuyan
Dhaka Abahani Dhaka Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium Comilla 18,000 1972 Bangladesh Maruful Haque Bangladesh Assaduzzaman Bablu
Chattogram City Chattogram Munshiganj Stadium Munshiganj 10,000 2010 Chile Julio Moreno Rayneld-Franco Bangladesh Md Rasel Hossain
City Club Dhaka Shaheed Barkat Stadium Gazipur 5,000 1972 Bangladesh Abdul Kayum Santu Bangladesh Apu Ahmed
Dhaka Wanderers Club Dhaka Chandpur Stadium Chandpur 10,000 1937
Fakirerpool YMC Dhaka Chandpur Stadium Chandpur 10,000 1960 Bangladesh Sawpan Kumar Das Bangladesh Raficul Islam
Fortis FC Dhaka Shaheed Miraj–Tapan Stadium Manikganj 5,000 2020 Bangladesh Masud Parvez Kaiser The Gambia Pa Omar Babou
Dhaka Mohammedan Dhaka Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium Comilla 18,000 1936 Argentina Fernando Santiago Varela
PWD SC Dhaka Shaheed Miraj–Tapan Stadium Manikganj 5,000 1954 Bangladesh Md Anwar Hossain Bangladesh Sumon Kumar Das
Rahmatganj MFS Dhaka Munshiganj Stadium Munshiganj 10,000 1933 Bangladesh Kamal Babu

All-time BFL table

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The all-time BFL table is an overall record of all match results, points, and goals of every team that has played in BFL since its inception in 2007. The table is accurate to the end of the 2025–26 season. Teams in bold are part of the 2026–27 season. Numbers in bold are the record (highest either positive or negative) numbers in each column.[40]

As of 6 September 2026
All-time table
Pos. Club Seasons Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD 1st 2nd 3rd Debut Since/Last App. Relegated Best
1 Dhaka Abahani 18 782 363 233 83 47 729 276 +453 6 6 3 2007 2025–26 1
2 Dhaka Mohammedan 18 615 363 169 108 86 611 370 +241 1 4 2 2007 2025–26 1
3 Sheikh Russel KC 16 537 327 150 87 90 497 349 +148 1 1 5 2007 2023–24 1
4 Sheikh Jamal DC 13 469 262 132 73 57 474 313 +161 3 3 0 2010 2023–24 1
5 Muktijoddha Sangsad 15 391 308 107 70 131 384 405 −21 0 2 2 2007 2022–23 1 2
6 Bashundhara Kings 8 368 150 115 23 12 364 113 +251 6 0 1 2018–19 2025–26 1
7 Brothers Union 16 365 320 89 98 133 394 494 −100 0 0 0 2007 2025–26 1 4
8 Chittagong Abahani 15 349 309 90 82 138 330 469 −139 0 1 1 2007 2024–25 2 2
9 Rahmatganj MFS 16 312 320 65 87 157 369 556 −187 0 0 0 2007 2025–26 1 4
10 Arambagh KS 12 235 237 59 58 120 236 377 −141 0 0 0 2007 2025–26 3 5
11 Saif SC 5 180 98 53 21 24 184 119 +65 0 0 1 2017–18 2021–22 3
12 Bangladesh Police 7 175 125 46 37 42 164 158 +6 0 0 1 2019–20 2025–26 3
13 Team BJMC 7 167 151 41 44 66 178 214 −36 0 0 0 2010 2018–19 1 4
14 Feni SC 7 136 151 30 46 75 143 232 −89 0 0 0 2009–10 2015–16 1 4
15 Farashganj SC 7 131 148 28 47 73 123 221 −98 0 0 0 2007 2017–18 3 6
16 Fortis FC 4 109 74 27 28 19 99 76 +23 0 0 1 2022–23 2025–26 3
17 Chittagong Mohammedan 4 99 86 24 27 35 81 116 −35 0 0 0 2007 2025–26 1 5
18 Uttar Baridhara 5 64 100 14 22 64 98 256 −158 0 0 0 2013–14 2021–22 3 10
19 Khulna Abahani 2 21 40 5 6 29 31 102 −71 0 0 0 2007 2008–09 1 9
20 NoFeL SC 1 20 24 5 5 14 23 42 −19 0 0 0 2018–19 2018–19 1 12
21 Narayanganj SS 1 20 24 4 8 12 12 35 −23 0 0 0 2009–10 2009–10 1 12
22 Fakirerpool YMC 2 29 36 8 5 23 36 98 −62 0 0 0 2024–25 2025–26 8
23 PWD SC 1 17 18 4 5 9 15 28 –13 0 0 0 2025–26 2025–26 8
24 Beanibazar SC 1 17 24 3 8 13 19 43 −24 0 0 0 2009–10 2009–10 1 13
25 Swadhinata KS 1 10 22 2 4 16 22 50 −28 0 0 0 2021–22 2021–22 1 12
26 Dhaka Wanderers 1 10 18 3 1 14 14 55 −41 0 0 0 2024–25 2024–25 1 9
27 AFC Uttara 1 5 20 0 5 15 10 56 −46 0 0 0 2022–23 2022–23 1 11
28 Chattogram City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2026–27 2026–27
29 City Club 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2026–27 2026–27

League or status prior to the 2026–27 season:

2026–27 Bangladesh Football League teams
2026–27 Bangladesh Championship League teams
Dhaka Senior Division League teams
Currently inactive
Defunct clubs

Statistics

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Seasonal statistics

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As of 23 May 2026[40]
SeasonTotal GoalsMatches playedAverage per Game
20072731102.48
2008–092801102.54
2009–103911562.50
20103341322.55
2011–122951102.68
2012–13162722.25
2013–143821352.82
2014–153321103.01
2015–163421322.59
2017–183021322.28
2018–194391562.81
2019–2095362.64
2020–214721563.03
2021–224471323.39
2022–233241102.95
2023–24263902.92
2024–25282903.13
2025–26235902.61

Head coaches

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Óscar Bruzón is the most successful coach in Bangladesh Football League history with 5 league titles.

In terms of coaching performance, after the first 17 seasons of the BFL, Bangladeshi head coaches have won it 7 times, while foreign head coaches have won it 9 times, and one season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pakir Ali of Sri Lanka was the first foreign head coach to win the BFL, while the second coach was Ali Akbar Pourmoslemi of Iran. Spaniard Óscar Bruzón has the most BFL championships at five and was the most recent foreign coach to win the title in the 2023–24 season.

Amalesh Sen was the first Bangladeshi coach to win the BFL in the league's opening season, and he has won BFL championships three times. Maruful Haque, Atiqur Rahman Atique, and Alfaz Ahmed are the only other Bangladeshi coaches to have won the Bangladesh Football League.

Winning head coaches
Head coach Club(s) Win(s) Winning season(s)
Spain Óscar Bruzón Bashundhara Kings 5 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
Bangladesh Amalesh Sen Dhaka Abahani 3 2007, 2008–09, 2009–10
Bangladesh Maruful Haque Sheikh Russel KC
Sheikh Jamal DC		 2 2012–13
2013–14
Sri Lanka Pakir Ali Sheikh Jamal DC 1 2010
Iran Ali Akbar Pourmoslemi Dhaka Abahani 1 2011–12
Nigeria Joseph Afusi Sheikh Jamal DC 1 2014–15
Austria György Kottán Dhaka Abahani 1 2015–16
Bangladesh Atiqur Rahman Atiq Dhaka Abahani 1 2017–18
Bangladesh Alfaz Ahmed Dhaka Mohammedan 1 2024–25
Bangladesh Bayazid Alam Zubair Nipu Bashundhara Kings 1 2025–26

Top scorers

[edit]
As of 25 November 2025
Sunday Chizoba is the top scorer in Bangladesh Football League history with 132 goals.

Bold indicates a player still active in the Bangladesh Football League. Italics indicate a player still active outside the Bangladesh Football League.

Rank Player Club(s) Years active Goals
1 Nigeria Sunday Chizoba Dhaka Mohammedan (12), Muktijoddha Sangsad KC (30), Sheikh Jamal DC (7), Dhaka Abahani (71), Rahmatganj MFS (12) 2012–2014, 2015–2022132
2 Mali Souleymane Diabate Dhaka Mohammedan (96), Dhaka Abahani (1) 2018–present97
3 Bangladesh Zahid Hasan Ameli Dhaka Abahani (25), Dhaka Mohammedan (30), Sheikh Jamal DC (6), Sheikh Russel KC (12), Muktijoddha Sangsad KC (5), Chittagong Abahani (0), Brothers Union (0) 2007–202178
4 Guinea Ismael Bangoura Team BJMC (39), Dhaka Mohammedan (21), Rahmatganj MFS (4), NoFeL SC (12), Muktijoddha Sangsad KC (0) 2011–202076
5 Nigeria Kingsley Chigozie Brothers Union (39), Muktijoddha Sangsad KC (17), Sheikh Russel KC (3), Dhaka Mohammedan (13), Chittagong Abahani (3) 2010–202075

Awards and records

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Awards

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Sponsorship

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Period Sponsor Name Notes Ref.
2008–10 Citycell Citycell B.League
Citycell Bangladesh League		 Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) signed a record three-year partnership deal with Citycell worth Tk 16.5 crores.

Citycell was the co-sponsor for the Federation Cup, the B. League and the school football tournament across the country.

 [45][46]
2010–13 Grameenphone Grameenphone Bangladesh Premier League [47]
2013–14 Nitol-Tata Nitol-Tata Bangladesh Premier Football League Nitol-Tata Group sponsored the Bangladesh Premier League after 35 matches into the ongoing league. [3][48]
2014–15 Manyavar Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League Besides Manyavar, KFC, Pragati Insurance, Amber Group and Treasurer had joined the country's professional football league as co-sponsors. [49][50][51]
2015–16 JB Group JB Bangladesh Premier League JB group had bought the title rights for Tk 4 crores. [52][53][54][55]
2016–18 Saif Power Battery SAIF Power Battery Bangladesh Premier League Saif Power Battery bought the title rights for Tk 1.5 crores. [52]
2018–22 TVS TVS Bangladesh Premier League BFF inked a one-year deal with TVS after finishing first leg of season. [56][57][58][59]
2023–25 Bashundhara Group ABG Bashundhara Bangladesh Premier League [60]
2025–2026 United Group United Healthcare Bangladesh Football League [61]
2026-present BSRM (Bangladesh) Bangladesh Football League Powered by BSRM [citation needed]

Media coverage

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132 matches of season 2015–2016 were broadcast live at BTV World and Boishakhi TV; also live commentary was produced by Radio Next FM.[62] Every match of this league has been streaming live on BFF's page Archived 30 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine of Mycujoo platform from 2018 to 2019 season. Bangla TV started broadcasting selected matches of the BPL 2018–19 matches live from 9 May 2019.[57] The first sports channel of Bangladesh, T Sports, started to broadcast the matches of BPL 2020–21 from 13 January 2021.

Stadiums

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Home stadiums of current clubs (2026–27)
Abahani Limited Arambagh KS Bangladesh Police FC Bashundhara Kings Brothers Union
Shaheed Dhirendranath Stadium, Comilla Gopalganj Old Stadium, Gopalganj Shaheed Barkat Stadium, Gazipur Bashundhara Kings Arena, Dhaka Gopalganj Old Stadium, Gopalganj
Capacity: 18,000 Capacity: 5,000 Capacity: 5,000 Capacity: 6,000 Capacity: 5,000
Chattogram City City Club Dhaka Wanderers Club Fakirerpool
Munshiganj Stadium, Munshiganj Shaheed Barkat Stadium, Gazipur Chandpur Stadium, Chandpur Chandpur Stadium, Chandpur
Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 5,000 Capacity: 10,000 Capacity: 10,000
Fortis FC Mohammedan SC PWD SC Rahmatganj MFS
Shaheed Miraj–Tapan Stadium, Manikganj Shaheed Dhirendranath Stadium, Comilla Shaheed Miraj–Tapan Stadium, Manikganj Munshiganj Stadium, Munshigonj
Capacity: 5,000 Capacity: 18,000 Capacity: 5,000 Capacity: 10,000

BFL clubs in Asia

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Continental qualification

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Bangladesh Football League teams can qualify for the Asian club competitions – the AFC Challenge League qualifying play-offs – through their performance in the league. Before the 2012–13 season, Bangladeshi clubs were only allowed entry to the now-defunct AFC President's Cup, which was a competition targeted for emerging football nations. Since the 2021–22 season, the league winners are allowed entry to the qualifying play-offs of the AFC Champions League.[63]

Dhaka Abahani was the first Bangladesh Football League club to play in Asian competition when they participated in the 2008 AFC President's Cup. The club qualified for the competition after winning the first edition of the league in 2007. The first six seasons of the league, Bangladeshi clubs only participated in the AFC President's Cup until Sheikh Russel KC, the winners of the 2012–13 league season, were given entry to the 2015 AFC Cup qualifying play-off. The winners of the 2013–14 season of the league, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, were the first Football League club to be given direct entry into the AFC Cup, during the 2016 AFC Cup.[citation needed]

In July 2022, it was confirmed that Bashundhara Kings, the winners of the 2021–22 league season, will partake in the AFC Champions League Play-off round, while holding an automatic place in the AFC Cup group stages if they are unable to advance past the play-offs. Meanwhile, the runner-up of the league will take part in the qualifiers of the AFC Cup or will directly qualify for the competition if the league winners advance past the AFC Champions League play-offs. The league's third-place team, along with the Federation Cup champions, will remain on standby for the AFC Cup Play-off round if the league winners succeed in qualifying for the AFC Champions League main stage.[64]

On 23 December 2022, it was announced that the AFC competition structure would change from the established formats from the 2024–25 season. A new third-tier tournament called the AFC Challenge League would be introduced.[65][66] Later, the entry regulations document was ratified by the executive committee on 19 October 2023, and came into force immediately for the 2024–25 season. Bangladesh has been given only a play-off slot according to their club competitions ranking,[67] and the champions of the 2023–24 season BFL, Bashundhara Kings, competed for the 2024–25 AFC Challenge League. The league's runner-up team, along with the Federation Cup champions, will remain on standby for the AFC Challenge League Play-off round if the league winners do not have an AFC Club Licence.

As of 17 September 2026[68]
Ranking Member association
(L: League, C: Cup)		 Club points Total Active
teams[d]		 2028–29 Competition Slot Allocation
(direct+indirect)
Region 2026–27 2025–26Mvmt 2018
(×0.3)		 2019
(×0.4)		 2021
(×0.5)		 2022
(×0.6)		 2023–24
(×0.7)		 2024–25
(×0.8)		 2025–26
(×0.9)		 2026–27
(×1.0)		 ACLE ACL2 ACGL Total
W14 25 261 +1India India (L, C) 4.417 3.217 3.677 4.797 3.453 6.500 1.338 2.183 18.333 2/2 0 0 0+1 1
W15 26 231 –3Tajikistan Tajikistan (L, C) 4.433 3.000 4.970 2.493 2.230 3.276 5.774 1.600 17.489 2/2
W16 27 281 +1Bangladesh Bangladesh (L, C) 1.433 6.933 2.790 3.760 4.730 1.500 2.433 2.100 15.655 1/2
W17 31 31Same position —Syria Syria (L, C) 2.000 3.133 1.785 2.890 1.400 2.500 1.000 1.650 10.010 2/2
W18 33 352 +2Bhutan Bhutan (L, C) 0.150 0.100 0.100 0.100 0.100 3.600 2.544 1.600 7.035 1/1


  Indicates active associations which have teams still competing in the current season's ACL Two
  Indicates active associations which have teams still competing in the current season's Challenge League.

BFL clubs in AFC tournament

[edit]
BFL clubs performance in AFC competitions (2007–present)
BFL Season Tier–1 Position Tier–2 Position Tier–3 Position
2007 N/a N/a N/a N/a Dhaka Abahani Group stage (2008)
2008–09 N/a N/a N/a N/a Dhaka Abahani Group stage (2009)
2009–10 N/a N/a N/a N/a Dhaka Abahani Group stage (2010)
N/a N/a N/a N/a Dhaka Abahani Group stage (2011)
2010 N/a N/a N/a N/a Sheikh Jamal DC Withdrew (2012)
2011–12 N/a N/a N/a N/a Dhaka Abahani Group stage (2013)
2012–13 N/a N/a Sheikh Russel KC Preliminary round (2015) Sheikh Russel KC Final stage (2014)
2013–14 N/a N/a Sheikh Jamal DC Group stage (2016) N/a N/a
2014–15 N/a N/a Sheikh Russel KC[e] Qualifying round (2017) N/a N/a
2015–16 N/a N/a Dhaka Abahani Group stage (2017) N/a N/a
2017–18 N/a N/a Dhaka Abahani Group stage (2018) N/a N/a
N/a N/a Saif SC[f] Preliminary round (2018) N/a N/a
2018–19 N/a N/a Dhaka Abahani[g] Inter-zone semi-finals (2019) N/a N/a
N/a N/a Bashundhara Kings Cancelled (2020) N/a N/a
N/a N/a Dhaka Abahani Preliminary round 2 (2020) N/a N/a
2019–20[h] N/a N/a Bashundhara Kings Group stage (2021) N/a N/a
N/a N/a Dhaka Abahani Withdrew (2021) N/a N/a
2020–21 N/a N/a Bashundhara Kings Group stage (2022) N/a N/a
N/a N/a Dhaka Abahani[i] Play-off round (2022) N/a N/a
2021–22 N/a N/a Bashundhara Kings Group stage (2023–24) N/a N/a
N/a N/a Dhaka Abahani Play-off round (2023–24) N/a N/a
2022–23 Bashundhara Kings Preliminary round (2023–24) Bashundhara Kings Group stage (2023–24) N/a N/a
2023–24 N/a N/a N/a N/a Bashundhara Kings Group stage (2024–25)
2024–25 N/a N/a N/a N/a Dhaka Abahani[j] Preliminary stage (2025–26)
N/a N/a N/a N/a Bashundhara Kings[k] Group stage (2025–26)

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ Arambagh KS was demoted to the Senior Division League for two years after their involvement in live betting, spot fixing, match manipulation, and online betting in three league matches.
  2. ↑ Uttar Baridhara demoted to the Second Division League (eventually given entry to the Senior Division League) after their involvement in spot fixing, match manipulation, and online betting in two league matches.
  3. ↑ In the eventually abandoned 2019–20 season, clubs were allowed to register five foreign players, with the fifth required to come from an AFC-affiliated Member Association.[19]
  4. ↑ Number of teams still active from association in AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two or AFC Challenge League.
  5. ↑ Sheikh Russel KC, runners-up, replaced 2014–15 league champions, Sheikh Jamal DC, who withdrew.[69]
  6. ↑ Runners-up, Sheikh Jamal DC, and third-place, Chittagong Abahani, failed to obtain AFC club licenses; therefore, fourth-place, Saif SC qualified, having met the licensing requirements.[70]
  7. ↑ as Federation Cup winners
  8. ↑ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh, the 2019–20 Bangladesh Premier League was cancelled and declared null and void by the Bangladesh Football Federation.[71] The teams from Bangladesh playing in the 2021 AFC Cup were determined by the results of the previous domestic season (2018–19 Bangladesh Premier League).[72]
  9. ↑ Runners-up, Sheikh Jamal DC, failed to obtain an AFC license; therefore, third-place Dhaka Abahani qualified, having met the licensing requirements.[73]
  10. ↑ Champions, Dhaka Mohammedan, failed to obtain an AFC license; therefore, runners-up, Dhaka Abahani, qualified, having met the licensing requirements.[74]
  11. ↑ The indirect slot of one of the member associations that did not enter was redistributed to the next highest eligible member association.[75]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Bangladesh Premier League (BPL)". Bangladesh Football Federation. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  2. ↑ "Dhaka teams bag the elite". The Daily Star. 3 January 2000. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Nitol Tata to sponsor BPL". The Daily Star. 4 February 2014. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  4. ↑ "Mohammedans champions in NFL". Bdnews24.com. 7 January 2006. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  5. ↑ লকডাউনে বন্ধ না হলেও বৃষ্টিতে বন্ধ ফুটবল লিগ. Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). 2 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  6. ↑ বিপিএলের নতুন নাম বিএফএল. tsports.com. 25 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  7. ↑ "Goalless draw in eventful opener". The Daily Star. 3 March 2007. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "Brothers' bright start". The Daily Star. 4 March 2007.
  9. ↑ "Russel, Mukti smile". The Daily Star. 28 March 2007.
  10. ↑ "Bangladesh – List of Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  11. ↑ "Bashundhara Kings seal historic fifth consecutive league title". The Daily Star. 11 May 2024. Archived from the original on 28 November 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  12. ↑ "Premier League back in original format". The Daily Star. 12 February 2022. Archived from the original on 26 February 2025.
  13. ↑ "Regulations of Bangladesh Premier League 2024-25" (PDF). Bangladesh Football Federation. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 November 2025. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  14. ↑ "Thick on domestic, thin on international". The Daily Star. 12 July 2012. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  15. ↑ "Shuktara Club Cup champs". The Daily Star. 23 June 2009. Archived from the original on 14 February 2025.
  16. ↑ "SAARC players get local status from next season". The Daily Star. 30 May 2025. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  17. ↑ "SAARC signings spark nostalgia, concerns for local talent". The Daily Star. 17 August 2025. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  18. ↑ "Registration of foreign footballers increases to six". Dhaka Tribune. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  19. ↑ "Bashundhara Kings confirms Iranian booter, completes foreign players quota". Prothom Alo English. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  20. ↑ "Salahuddin pitches for more overseas players". bdnews24.com. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  21. ↑ Hoque, Shishir (13 October 2014). "Foreign players' quota set at three for BPFL". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  22. ↑ "Foreigners' quota decision welcomed". The Daily Star. 18 March 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  23. ↑ "And the first-ever B. League crown goes to Abahani". bdnews24.com. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  24. ↑ "Abahani retain title". The Daily Star. 6 February 2009. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  25. ↑ "Abahani's hattrick triumph". The Daily Star. 26 May 2010. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  26. ↑ Rahman, Anisur (23 June 2011). "Sk Jamal crowned champions". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  27. ↑ "Abahani clinch BPL title". bdnews24.com. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  28. ↑ Rahman, Anisur (3 May 2013). "Sk Russel's finest hour". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  29. ↑ "League ends with a bang". The Daily Star. 26 July 2014. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  30. ↑ "Sk Jamal keep title". The Daily Star. 31 July 2015. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  31. ↑ "Champions Abahani end unbeaten". The Daily Star. 31 December 2016. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  32. ↑ "Abahani dedicate title to Amalesh". Dhaka Tribune. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  33. ↑ "Bashundhara Kings crowned Bangladesh Premier League champions for first time". bdnews24.com. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  34. ↑ "BFF cancels football season". The Daily Star. 17 May 2020. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  35. ↑ "Kings retain Federation Cup title". Daily Sun. January 2021. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  36. ↑ "Premier League". Soccerway. 2022. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  37. ↑ "Premier League". Soccerway. 2023. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  38. ↑ "Premier League". Soccerway. 2024. Archived from the original on 28 November 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  39. ↑ "Premier League". Soccerway. 2025. Archived from the original on 28 November 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  40. 1 2 "Summary - Premier League - Bangladesh - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  41. ↑ "Emily best in B. League". The Daily Star. 6 August 2007. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  42. ↑ "Curtain falls on BPL with Kings-Abahani stalemate". New Age. 29 September 2021. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  43. ↑ লিগের সেরা গোলরক্ষকই ডাক পান না জাতীয় দলে!. Dhaka Post (in Bengali). 21 November 2024. Archived from the original on 28 November 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  44. ↑ রহমতগঞ্জের হয়ে জেতা পুরস্কার মোহামেডানের জার্সিতে গ্রহণ করলেন বোয়েটাং. Dhaka Post (in Bengali). 13 September 2025. Archived from the original on 28 November 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  45. ↑ "BFF connects Citycell with landmark deal". The Daily Star. 14 July 2008. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  46. ↑ "BFF-Citycell become partners". Bdnews24.com. 24 July 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  47. ↑ "BFF hopes to renew sponsorship deal with Grameenphone". Dhaka Tribune. 11 May 2013. Archived from the original on 28 November 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  48. ↑ "Nitol-Tata steps up again". Dhaka Tribune. 3 February 2014. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  49. ↑ "Manyavar BPL's title sponsor". The Daily Star. 6 April 2015. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  50. ↑ "Manyavar to sponsor top-flight football". Dhaka Tribune. 5 April 2015. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  51. ↑ "Manyavar named title sponsor of BPFL". NTV. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  52. 1 2 "Saif Power title sponsors of BPL". Bangladesh Football Federation. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  53. ↑ "Jaj Bhuiyan Group selected as the title sponsor of BPL Football". The Daily Ittefaq. 29 June 2016. Archived from the original on 28 May 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  54. ↑ "JB Group earn title rights of BPL". The Daily Star. 30 June 2016. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  55. ↑ "JB Group bag BPL title rights". Bangladesh Football Federation. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  56. ↑ "BFF inks deal with ISP". Dhaka Tribune. 8 May 2019. Archived from the original on 7 March 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  57. 1 2 "Deal inked with ISP, new BPL title sponsor TVS". Bangladesh Football Federation. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  58. ↑ পৃষ্ঠপোষক পেলো প্রিমিয়ার লিগ ফুটবল. Somoy News (in Bengali). 8 May 2019. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  59. ↑ অবশেষে প্রিমিয়ার লীগে স্পন্সর পেল বাফুফে. Janakantha (in Bengali). 9 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  60. ↑ বিপিএল এখন নাম বদলে বিএফএল. somoynews.tv (in Bengali). 25 September 2025. Archived from the original on 28 November 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  61. ↑ "BFF names United Health Care as new Football League sponsor". viewsbangladesh.com. 25 November 2025. Archived from the original on 29 November 2025. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  62. ↑ জমকালো আয়োজনে উন্মোচিত হলো বিপিএলের লোগো ও ট্রফি. Jago News 24 (in Bengali). 18 July 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  63. ↑ চ্যাম্পিয়ন্স লিগ খেলবে বাংলাদেশের ক্লাব. banglanews24.com. 19 July 2022. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  64. ↑ "A club from Bangladesh to play in Asian Champions League". The Daily Star. 19 July 2022. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  65. ↑ "AFC Competitions Committee recommends strategic reforms to elevate Asian club football". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  66. ↑ "AFC Executive Committee approves biggest prize purse in Asian club football history from 2024/25; announces AFC Women's Champions League". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 14 August 2023. Archived from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  67. ↑ "AFC Club Competitions 2024/25 Slot Allocation" (PDF). FAS.org.sg. Football Association of Singapore. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  68. ↑ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking 2027". FootyRankings. 17 September 2026. Retrieved 21 September 2026.
  69. ↑ "Sk Russel in tough group". The Daily Star. 18 June 2016. Archived from the original on 1 December 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  70. ↑ "Saif SC confirm AFC Cup". The Daily Star. 3 January 2018. Archived from the original on 1 December 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  71. ↑ "BPL 2019-20 abandonned [sic]". Dhaka Tribune. 17 May 2020. Archived from the original on 1 December 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  72. ↑ "Kings, Abahani likely participants in AFC Cup". The Daily Star. 27 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 December 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  73. ↑ "List of Licensed Clubs for the 2022 AFC Cup" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  74. ↑ "Mohammedan's bitter-sweet coronation as AFC ticket missed". The Daily Star. 2 June 2025. Archived from the original on 2 December 2025. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  75. ↑ "FC Club Competitions – Entry Regulations" (PDF). 5 March 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
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