The final round of the new edition of the JFA U-14 Women’s Development Programme kicked off today at Muktijuddha Smrity Stadium in Rajshahi, with two matches scheduled for the opening day.

Rajshahi district faced Rangpur district in the first match at 2:30 pm, while Mymensingh district met Khagrachari district in the second match at 4:30 pm.

The final round was initially set to feature champions from six venues, hosts Rajshahi, and the best runner-up. However, due to changes in participation, Khagrachari district is playing in place of Rangamati, which was the host venue champion of the Rangamati zone.

At a press conference held Monday at the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Bhaban, BFF Women’s Wing Chairman Mahfuza Akter Kiron explained that Rangamati, the champions and hosts of their zone, along with runners-up Cox’s Bazar, withdrew from the final round. As a result, Khagrachari, the third-placed team, advanced to fill the slot.

A total of eight district teams, divided into two groups, are competing in the final round. The top two teams from each group will move on to the semifinals on September 23, with the final scheduled for September 25.

Group A: Rajshahi, Khagrachari, Mymensingh, Rangpur
Group B: Thakurgaon, Chapainawabganj, Khulna, Manikganj

The preliminary round of the JFA U-14 Women’s Development Programme took place last month, featuring 42 teams from across the country as part of the Festival of Youth 2025.

MN/