The FIFA World Cup kicks off tonight, and although Bangladesh is not among the participating nations, excitement surrounding football’s biggest event has reached fever pitch as always across the country of 170 million people.

From bustling cities to remote neighborhoods, conversations revolve around one question: will Brazil, Argentina, France or Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal lift the trophy? Supporters are celebrating the tournament with jerseys, flags, rallies, social media campaigns and countless debates over their favorite teams.

Every World Cup transforms the atmosphere in Bangladesh. Rooftops are adorned with colorful flags, tea stalls become venues for passionate arguments, and social media platforms turn into battlegrounds of emotions and football analysis. Four years of anticipation culminate in a few weeks during which millions of Bangladeshis become emotionally invested in the fortunes of teams thousands of miles away.

Although Bangladesh has never qualified for the World Cup, football enthusiasts here consider themselves among the tournament's most passionate followers. Farmers, teachers, artists, journalists and professionals from all walks of life rally behind their chosen teams. The passion extends to national sports stars and celebrities as well.

When a football rolls on a World Cup pitch somewhere across the globe, its impact resonates in homes throughout Bangladesh. For some, it is the blue-and-white colors of Argentina that stir emotions; for others, it is the magic of Brazil's yellow jersey. Yet the shared sentiment remains the same: the World Cup represents much more than football—it is an emotion.

Alongside street processions, giant flags and wall paintings, social media platforms have become major venues for World Cup discussions.

Supporters are posting messages supporting their favorite teams and players, sharing predictions and engaging in friendly banter with rival fans. Many are using artificial intelligence tools to create images featuring national flags, football-themed artwork and pictures of public figures wearing their preferred teams’ jerseys.

Supporters of Brazil, Argentina, France, Portugal and other nations are engaged in friendly online rivalries, recalling past triumphs while dreaming of future glory.

Jersey sales soar

The World Cup has also sparked a boom in the sale of football merchandise across Bangladesh.

Sports shops, shopping malls, street vendors and online retailers are witnessing increased demand for jerseys, flags, caps, whistles and football accessories.

Various Facebook pages and online stores are selling jerseys priced between Tk 400 and Tk 1,000. Popular e-commerce platforms Daraz and Othoba are also reporting strong sales, with jerseys available for between Tk 220 and Tk 1,500 depending on the model and quality.

At the capital's Gulistan area and the country's largest sports goods market, Samabaya Twin Tower Market, football jerseys are selling briskly. According to traders, Brazil and Argentina jerseys remain the most popular among customers.

Street vendors are selling jerseys at prices ranging from Tk 150 to Tk 1,000, while flags of various sizes are also attracting buyers. Three-foot flags are selling for around Tk 100, five-foot flags for Tk 150-200, and ten-foot flags for Tk 350-600.

The scene in some areas resembles a city divided between Brazil and Argentina supporters.

Sports merchandise stores at shopping centers including Bashundhara City and Jamuna Future Park are also experiencing strong business.

Kalam, a sports goods seller in the Bashundhara City area, said football fans have been crowding stores from morning until closing time.

"Compared to normal periods, jersey sales have increased significantly. Depending on whether they are fan edition, player edition or Thai edition jerseys, prices range from around Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,500," he said.

Every World Cup revives a familiar question among Bangladeshi football fans: when will Bangladesh qualify for the tournament?

While football analysts often find the answer straightforward, ordinary supporters remain hopeful.

The tournament has expanded from 32 to 48 teams for the 2026 edition. The number of teams, matches, venues and host nations has increased significantly, but Bangladesh remains outside the World Cup picture.

Despite not participating, many football observers argue that Bangladesh maintains a unique presence at the World Cup.

Millions of Bangladeshis passionately support teams such as Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, England, Spain, Germany, Italy and Iran. Their homes, rooftops and streets are decorated with foreign flags, and fans wear jerseys of countries with which they have no direct connection.

Few nations exhibit such deep emotional investment in foreign national teams.

Bangladesh's football culture is particularly notable for the long-standing rivalry between Brazil and Argentina supporters. Every World Cup seems to divide the country into two camps. The phenomenon, which began during the 1980s and 1990s, remains strong today.

In recent years, however, European football has also gained substantial popularity. Many fans admire France's rise, Italy's defensive traditions, Spain's tiki-taka style and the power football associated with Germany and England.

Nevertheless, Brazil and Argentina continue to dominate the football imagination of Bangladesh.

The phrase "Bangladesh is present in the World Cup despite not playing" has gained increasing relevance over the years.

The extraordinary enthusiasm of Bangladeshi supporters has brought the country international attention, particularly among football nations such as Argentina and Brazil.
During the 2022 World Cup, Bangladesh's support for Argentina became a global talking point. Argentine players, coach Lionel Scaloni and international media acknowledged the overwhelming backing they received from Bangladeshi fans.

Many Argentines subsequently discovered Bangladesh through social media, while Argentine supporters began following Bangladesh's cricket team.

The growing people-to-people connection culminated in Argentina reopening its embassy in Bangladesh in 2023 after a gap of 45 years. Observers described the development as a rare example of sports diplomacy driven largely by football fandom.

Bangladesh's hidden contribution to the World Cup

Bangladesh also contributes to the World Cup in another important way—through its garment industry.

Many of the jerseys, shorts and sportswear worn by some of the world's biggest football stars are manufactured in Bangladeshi factories.

Global sportswear brands such as Nike, Adidas and Puma rely heavily on Bangladesh's ready-made garment sector for the production of official football apparel.

As a result, while Bangladesh may not appear on the field, its workers help produce the clothing worn by players competing on football's biggest stage.

World Cup celebrations in Bangladesh extend far beyond flags and jerseys.

Across the country, giant screens are installed in public spaces where thousands gather to watch matches together. Such scenes are rarely witnessed in countries that are not participating in the tournament.

FIFA itself has acknowledged Bangladesh's extraordinary football culture. In recent World Cup cycles, the organization has included Bangladesh in its World Cup Trophy Tour, allowing local fans to see the iconic trophy up close.

The World Cup's ultimate goal is to unite people through football and spread joy across nations. In that sense, Bangladesh remains an inseparable part of the global football community.

The country may not compete on the pitch, but its passion, emotion and devotion to football rival those of many nations that do.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is making history as the first edition to be jointly hosted by three countries—the United States, Canada and Mexico—and the first to feature an expanded 48-team format.

The tournament, spread across 16 host cities, is expected to be the biggest World Cup ever staged, bringing together football’s finest players and billions of fans around the globe.

Defending champions Argentina will seek to retain the title they won in Qatar in 2022, while traditional powerhouses Brazil, France, Germany, Spain, England and Portugal will also be among the contenders for football’s most coveted trophy.

For Bangladesh, however, the World Cup is about more than results and trophies. It is a celebration that transcends borders, cultures and languages—a festival that unites millions of people through a shared love of the game.

Bangladesh may not be among the 48 teams competing on the field, but in the stands of global fandom, the country remains one of football’s most passionate homes.

As the world turns its attention to football’s grandest stage once again, one question will dominate conversations from tea stalls and university campuses to homes and social media feeds across Bangladesh: who will lift the World Cup trophy this time?