Dhaka, May 10 -- 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 Roman...