Bangladesh lose to Fortis FC in warm-up match

Bangladesh national team lost 1-0 to Bangladesh Football League (BFL) side Fortis FC in a closed-door friendly at Bashundhara Kings Arena on Friday.

The match was part of the national side’s preparation for the forthcoming FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, set to begin in Indonesia on September 24.

Nigerian forward Stephen Chukwuede scored the only goal as Thomas Dooley’s side failed to find their rhythm in the match, which was arranged to assess players’ match fitness and try out different combinations on the pitch.

Dooley has been running a camp at the Bashundhara Kings Arena, which he had recently trimmed to 28 members to focus more on ‘top players’ who will be part of the 23-member squad in Indonesia.

Bangladesh had previously beaten City Club in another practice match, but the defeat by Fortis, who finished third in the previous season of the BFL, comes just days before Dooley is expected to finalise his squad for the tournament.

Bangladesh are drawn alongside hosts Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. The team are scheduled to leave for Indonesia on September 19.