Bangladesh Government Will Not Fund Proposed Friendly Match With Brazil

The government of Bangladesh has officially announced that it will not allocate public funds to support the proposed international friendly football match between Bangladesh and Brazil. State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haq made this clear declaration regarding the financial stance of the administration during a recent briefing held in Dhaka on 25 August 2026. The announcement addresses ongoing discussions surrounding the high-profile sporting event that had captured significant public attention across the country.

Previously, the Bangladesh Football Federation, commonly known as the BFF, had indicated that it would seek government financial assistance to cover the substantial costs associated with hosting the Brazilian national team. The sports federation had hoped to rely on state resources to help facilitate the proposed friendly encounter. However, the State Minister firmly ruled out any direct expenditure of public money for this specific sporting initiative, citing the current economic pressures facing the nation.

Elaborating on the reasons behind the decision, Md. Aminul Haq explained that the administration must prioritize pressing fiscal demands in other vital sectors. In his remarks, the State Minister stated, "If you answer in one word, at this moment on behalf of the government... spending money in this way... As you know, we have to bear a lot of expenses regarding various sectors including electricity and fuel, in that case we do not have the mentality within us to make such expenses on the part of the government for the occasion of a single match."

Despite the lack of direct government funding, the door remains open for the fixture to take place through alternative financial arrangements. The State Minister revealed that he has already held discussions with the president of the Bangladesh Football Federation regarding the matter. Since the BFF has been in contact with a visiting delegation from Brazil, the government has suggested that the sports body explore the private sector to fund the endeavor independently.

Addressing the potential path forward, Md. Aminul Haq noted, "I have spoken with the BFF president. Since they have spoken with the Brazil delegation, if they can bring various sponsors and complete it; then we will provide overall cooperation on behalf of the government." He emphasized that the initiative is still at a very early stage, adding, "The matter is at a very completely initial stage. We have only had primary discussions. Open discussions have not yet taken place regarding bearing the expenses and incidental issues."