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Published : 10 May 2026, 07:40 PM
Bangladesh is looking to turn football diplomacy into a winning goal, formally inviting top-tier Italian clubs for friendly matches to celebrate the deep-seated ties between the two nations.
The proposal was tabled by Foreign Affairs Advisor Humaiun Kobir during a meeting with Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro on Sunday at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Rather than just a sporting event, the move is seen as a nod to the estimated 213,000-strong Bangladeshi community currently living and working in Italy, according to Caritas.
It is one of the largest Asian diasporas in the European Union, as of early 2026, ranking among the top three nationalities securing residence permits across the Mediterranean nation after Romania and Morocco.
According to a foreign ministry statement, the initiative aims to transform "people-to-people contact" from a diplomatic phrase into a stadium reality.
With thousands of Bangladeshi students now choosing Italian universities and a massive labour force contributing to the Italian economy, officials believe a high-profile football tour would provide a massive cultural bridge for both home and migrant populations.
Beyond the pitch, the dialogue shifted to the "Made in Bangladesh" brand.
Ambassador Alessandro expressed keen interest in scaling up imports of high-quality Bangladeshi garments, leather goods, and food items.
In exchange, Italy is pushing for Bangladesh to integrate modern Italian industrial machinery to leapfrog its manufacturing capabilities.
The meeting also tackled the critical issue of migration, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to safe and regular immigration management.
The ministry said both Bangladesh and Italy reaffirmed their commitment to elevating relations to a new level, expressing optimism about further strengthening cooperation in trade, defence, culture, sports and migration in the future.
