AFC Asian Cup Qualifier, BFF sets steep ticket prices for Bangladesh–India showdown

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) seems eager to turn the country’s football fever into financial gain. Riding on the buzz created by Hamza, Shamit, and the national team’s recent revival, the federation has sharply raised ticket prices for the highly anticipated Bangladesh–India AFC Asian Cup Qualifier, set for November 18 at the National Stadium.

Wherever the red and green have played lately, the stands have been overflowing. From the electric night against Singapore in June to the packed matches against Hong Kong, China in October, demand for tickets has been through the roof — and the BFF appears keen to cash in on the craze.

Tickets will go on sale online from Monday at 2 PM, but fans will need to dig deeper into their pockets this time. The general gallery price has jumped from Tk 400 to Tk 500. “The demand is enormous, and we deliberately set the price at Tk 500,” said Tajwar Awal, a member of BFF’s Competition Committee.

“It’s Bangladesh versus India — a high-voltage regional encounter that draws huge interest. Still, we haven’t raised the prices excessively,” he added, though many supporters may disagree.

Premium categories have seen even steeper hikes. Club House 2 tickets have risen from Tk 2,000 to Tk 3,000, Club House 1 is now Tk 5,000, VIP 2 costs Tk 4,000, VIP 3 is Tk 3,000, and the exclusive Corporate Box will set fans back a hefty Tk 8,000.

The move is strikingly different from BFF’s approach to the November 13 friendly against Nepal, where it lowered prices to encourage attendance — Tk 300 for the general gallery and Tk 1,000 for the top tier. Despite the discount, turnout remained poor, with more than half the tickets unsold.

Now, with India coming to town, the federation seems intent on reversing that trend — shifting from half-empty stands to a packed house, and from discounts to demand-based pricing. For the fans, it’s about pride and passion; for the BFF, it’s clearly about seizing the moment — and the money.