The quality and strength between the Bangladesh National Football Team and Lebanon are so different. The Reds and Greens are under pressure ahead of the joint qualifier in the second encounter in Round 2 of the World Cup 2026 and the AFC Cup 2027. Jamal Bhuyan and Co will take on Lebanon at Bashundhara Kings Arena Stadium at 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday.
Lebanon is 79 places above Bangladesh in the latest FIFA ranking. Bangladesh is now at 183, while the West Asian country is at 104.
Bangladesh lost their first encounter against mighty Australia by 0-7 goals at AAMI Park in Group I, Melbourne, on November 16.
Meanwhile, Lebanon acquired one point from the first outings in the group. They drew with Palestine after a goalless draw at Sharjah Stadium, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Thursday.
Javier Cabrera and his CO have to face a huge challenge against the Lebanese. The team is physically and mentally weak. Two vital players, defender Saad Uddin and forward Rakib Hossain, who saw yellow cards in two outings in a row, were ruled out of today’s match as Alamgir Molla and Dipok Roy have a chance to play the match.
It would be a big challenge for Bangladesh. All the players must play a vital role in the match. They should remember that Lebanon is stronger than Bangladesh. Jamal Bhuyan lost to Lebanon by 0-2 goals in the SAFF Championship at Sree Kanterava Stadium, Bengaluru, on June 22, 2023.
In their head-to-head record, Lebanon is ahead of Bangladesh, as the former has won two and the latter has won one match so far.
Bangladesh first played against Lebanon in the FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the Camille Chamoun Sports City stadium in Beirut on July 23, 2011, and the hosts defeated Bangladesh by 4-0.
In the reverse fixture, Bangladesh took revenge by winning the home match 2-0 against Lebanon at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on July 28, 2011.