In a rare treat for Bangladeshi football fans, two iconic figures of world football—Brazil’s legendary right-back Cafu and Argentina’s celebrated forward Claudio Caniggia—are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on 11 December. Their visit promises not only a surge of excitement across the football-loving population but also the exceptional opportunity for select fans to meet—and even dine—with the celebrated duo.
The news of their visit was confirmed by MD Asaduzzaman, Managing Director of AF Boxing Promotion International Ltd, the organisation responsible for bringing the football stars to Bangladesh. Speaking to the press, he said, “Cafu and Caniggia will arrive on the morning of the 11th on the same flight and will depart together on the 13th. Their schedule has been carefully arranged to allow the people of Bangladesh to spend time with two of the greatest names in world football.”
Their visit coincides with the launch of the Latin–Bangla Super Cup, a youth-focused football event beginning today at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. The tournament serves as the main reason for the former World Cup stars’ arrival in the capital. The event aims to foster football exchanges between Bangladesh and Latin American football systems, offering local players exposure to higher-level competition.
Bangladesh’s own team will participate under the title Red–Green Future Stars, featuring 19 players who recently represented the country in the AFC Under-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers in China. These young talents will take the field against two Latin American clubs renowned in their respective youth circuits.
The Red–Green Future Stars’ opening match will take place tonight at 7 pm against the Under-20 squad of São Bernardo FC, a club that competes regularly in Brazil’s third-tier league. Their second match, scheduled for 8 December, will see them challenge the Under-20 team of Atlético Charlone, a Buenos Aires-based local club known mainly for domestic tournaments and friendly fixtures.
On 11 December—the same day Cafu and Caniggia arrive—the Brazilian and Argentine youth sides will face each other in a classic Latin showdown. All three fixtures will be held at the national stadium, expected to draw significant attendance given the growing enthusiasm for football in the country.
However, what is likely to attract even broader attention is the exclusive event being planned around the football icons’ visit. Discussions are currently under way to arrange a special evening dinner where fans, sponsors, and select guests will have the unforgettable opportunity to sit down with Cafu and Caniggia. While details have not yet been fully disclosed, organisers hint at a limited-entry event aimed at bringing Bangladeshi supporters closer to the legends they have admired for decades.
Football in Bangladesh has long been coloured by passionate divides between supporters of Brazil and Argentina, particularly during World Cup seasons. Streets fill with rival flags, intense debates erupt in neighbourhoods, and generations bond—or clash—over the beautiful game. Having two stars who represent the heart of that rivalry arriving together in Dhaka is expected to ignite memories, nostalgia, and an intense wave of excitement.
As anticipation builds, fans across the country can look forward to witnessing history—both on the pitch and across the dinner table.