They now turn their attention to their fifth and final match, against hosts China, on Sunday.

Excitement is at fever pitch in Dinajpur and Sirajganj, with supporters from both districts travelling to Dhaka in hired buses to cheer their teams.

Since March 2025, Hamza has managed the improbable and unthinkable, doing so with a style and spirit that has turned an entire era mythic.

Asked to place the latest victory alongside his English FA Cup win with Leicester City, he replied that the significance was incomparable.

From jerseys to flags and food, Bangladesh's international football fixtures have become a thriving ecosystem for small businesses, showing how national pride can ripple through local communities.

As Bangladesh players celebrated the win, it felt as though two eras quietly touched hands.

Bangladesh’s recent performances against India and other stronger teams, combined with the influx of overseas-based footballers over the past year, have raised public expectations despite the team’s modest global ranking.

Sheikh Morsalin ended Bangladesh’s long wait for a victory against India with an 11th-minute strike, as the hosts secured their first win of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign with a 1-0 triumph at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday.

With 95 goals in 157 international appearances, Chhetri is the fourth-highest goal scorer in international football, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Ali Daei.

Bangladesh now turn their focus to the crucial Asian Cup Qualifier against India on November 18, with both players expected to be available barring any setbacks.

Bangladesh’s display, built around brief flashes of quality from Hamza, again exposed familiar flaws -- inconsistency, defensive fragility, and the inability to close out matches.

The penultimate fixture for Bangladesh and India in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers will be held at the 22,400-capacity National Stadium in Dhaka on November 18, with an 8:00 pm kick-off.

The ban came into effect on November 3, as Richmond Boakye, Kennedy Amutenya, and Moayad Al Khouli reportedly lodged complaints with FIFA after not being paid despite signing contracts with Abahani for the 2024–25 season.

The Bangladesh national football team will play a FIFA friendly against Nepal on November 13, confirmed BFF competitions committee chairman Golam Gauss, after Myanmar’s refusal to play in Dhaka forced cancellation of Bangladesh’s scheduled friendly against Afghanistan.

In the latest episode of Pitch Perfect, The Daily Star’s sports podcast, we dive deep into the matter.

Meanwhile, Spain remain world number one, with reigning champions Argentina overtaking France to second, and Germany re-entering the top 10.

To reach the final round for a third time, Bangladesh must deliver a stronger, more composed performance than against Jordan.

Topu said he was "not happy with the overall results" in the 2026 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers "because, as a team, we expected better."

These moments frame a larger picture of our sporting mindset.

It was a moment to breathe, to reset, and to gather strength before another battle awaits at Kowloon’s Kai Tak Sports Park on October 14.