Six nations competed in the tournament.[2] BFF president Kazi Salahuddin has previously stated that the BFF wanted to get one team from each of the Asian Football Confederation's sub-confederations.[3] Afghanistan was also reported as a potential participant.[4] All teams were the first teams except for the Philippines which brought their second team.[5]
The draw took place on 1 September 2018 at the Le Méridien Dhaka Hotel in Dhaka. The six teams were drawn into two groups with three teams each for the group stage.[2][6]
Local sports marketing company K-Sports bought the rights for this edition of the tournament and provided all the expenditures.[3]
References
^"Bangabandhu Gold Cup 2018 from Oct 1 with 6 international teams". BFF. 9 August 2018. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
^ a b"Bangladesh pitted with Philippines, Laos". Dhaka Tribune. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
^ a b"K-Sports snaps up rights to Gold Cup". The Daily Star. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
^"Gold Cup in October?". The Daily Star. Bangladesh. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
^"First teams add fire". The Daily Star. Bangladesh. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
^"Bangabandhu Gold Cup draw held". BFF. 1 September 2018. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
^"Bangladesh, Laos to kick off Bangabandhu Gold Cup". Dhaka Tribune. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2018.