Defending champions Bangladesh will start their campaign in the six-nation South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Under-19 Men's Championship' 2025 taking on the Maldives in the opening match on Friday (May 9).

The match will kick off at 4 pm at the Golden Jubilee Stadium, Yupia, in Arunachal Pradesh while hosts India will encounter Sri Lanka in the other opening day's fixture at 7:30 pm.

Nazmul Huda Faysal is expected to lead Bangladesh team in the ensuing SAFF U-19 Championship will be held from May 9 to 19 in the Arunachal Pradesh

Bangladesh team is in Group A of the regional youth soccer meet with Bhutan and the Maldives while the Group B team comprises hosts India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Ahead of the match, Bangladesh U-19 National Football Team made their training session today (Thursday) morning at 9 am local time and 9:30 am Bangladesh time at the R.G. Stadium in Naharlagun.

The day's session focused on light recovery, ball work, and tactical drills as the players made their on-field preparations with high spirit and determination..

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Bangladesh team also attended the Manager’s Coordination Meeting (MCM) this noon.

Later In the afternoon , Bangladesh team also addressed the pre-match official press conference where team's Head Coach Golam Rabbani Choton and Captain Nazmul Huda Faisal spoke on behalf of Bangladesh team.

Earlier, Bangladesh youth team, studded with two Bangladesh-origin foreign footballers, reached Arunachal Pradesh last Tuesday via Kolkata to compete in the SAFF U-19 Men's Championship 2025 in a hope of clinching the title.

Left winger Abdul Kadir of Italy and USA forward Farzad Syed Aftab were included in the Bangladesh U-19 side for the first time.

In the remaining group match, Bangladesh will face Bhutan on May 11, also at 4 pm at the same venue.

The top two teams from each of the two groups will play in the semifinals on May 16, while the final match billed for May 18.