During the football World Cup, Bangladesh, like much of the global community, becomes completely consumed by an intense football frenzy. When a favourite team finds the back of the net, rapturous shouts of joy echo through crowded neighbourhoods, narrow alleys, and sprawling city streets. This immense passion routinely spills from local tea stalls onto various social media platforms, where supporters exchange passionate praise for their chosen teams alongside good-natured mockery of their rivals. Recognising this extraordinary and unwavering devotion, football’s global governing body, FIFA, has officially spotlighted the unique World Cup enthusiasm that regularly grips the South Asian nation.
In Bangladesh, the vast majority of football enthusiasts divide themselves into two fiercely loyal camps: Brazil and Argentina. When these footballing giants play, giant projector screens are erected across local neighbourhoods and community squares. Fans clad in their teams’ official jerseys gather in their thousands to watch the matches, celebrating crucial victories by blowing vuvuzelas, dancing, and singing long into the night. Capturing this vibrant atmosphere, the official FIFA World Cup Facebook page published a curated series of five photographs showcasing Bangladesh’s football mania. The global governing body aptly captioned the post: “Bangladesh doesn’t just watch the World Cup, Bangladesh lives the World Cup.”
The national team has never qualified to play in a FIFA World Cup tournament. Despite this lack of direct participation, the competition remains an unmatched spectacle across the country. When “The Greatest Show on Earth” takes place, Bangladeshi fans join the global celebrations with unparalleled zeal. The sheer scale of this fandom—often described by international observers as a beautiful madness—traditionally catches the attention of global media outlets, including major television broadcasters in Argentina and Brazil, who frequently report on the massive scenes of jubilation across Dhaka and other major cities. Reflecting this specific dual allegiance, four of the five images shared by FIFA focused directly on Brazil and Argentina supporters, whilst one photograph captured a local fan proudly displaying an image of Portugal’s talismanic forward, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 2026 Football World Cup commenced at the iconic Estadio Azteca with an action-packed opening fixture between Mexico and South Africa, which notably saw a record number of disciplinary red cards issued. Since the opening whistle blew on 11 June, global superstars like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Cristiano Ronaldo have continued to shatter long-standing tournament records on the pitch.
Lionel Messi has already scored five goals in the current edition, rewriting the history books by taking his career World Cup tally to an unprecedented 18 goals. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo secured a double record last night, netting a crucial brace during Portugal’s clinical performance against Uzbekistan. The global football tournament is progressing rapidly towards its dramatic conclusion, with the highly anticipated final scheduled to take place on 19 July at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
