In Bangladesh, almost every conversation around the FIFA World Cup eventually arrives at two inevitable questions: which team do you support, Argentina or Brazil? And who is the greatest, Lionel Messi or Neymar Jr?
As another four-year World Cup cycle comes full circle, that familiar excitement has returned once again. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off on 11 June across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Brazil’s 2022 World Cup campaign ended in heartbreak with a quarter-final penalty shootout defeat to Croatia. In contrast, Argentina went on to win the title after 36 years, led by Lionel Messi’s brilliance and a historic final against France. Emiliano Martínez’s decisive saves in the shootout became part of World Cup folklore, sealing Argentina’s long-awaited triumph.
Messi and Neymar are set to take the field once more in pursuit of football’s most coveted trophy. Even before the tournament begins, Bangladesh has already been swept up by World Cup fever. If anything, the passion has only grown stronger over generations, fuelled largely by the enduring influence of South American football’s two powerhouses, Argentina and Brazil.
Earlier this week, Brazil announced their World Cup squad at 2 am Bangladesh time. Fans across the country stayed awake deep into the night to watch the unveiling live. While previous squad announcements were usually met with excitement over the team’s depth, this time opinions were divided over Neymar’s inclusion.
Concerns surrounding the injury-prone superstar had already sparked weeks of debate and anxiety among supporters. Once the squad was finally confirmed, social media in Bangladesh exploded with reactions and celebrations from Brazil fans.
Argentina are yet to announce their final squad, but as defending champions, the aura surrounding La Albiceleste already feels different. A talented young squad combined with a formidable midfield has raised expectations, though perhaps nothing excites Bangladeshi supporters more than the possibility of seeing Messi grace the World Cup stage one final time. For Argentina fans in Bangladesh, Messi remains the ultimate answer to Brazil’s long-standing football dominance.
As always, Bangladesh’s decades-old World Cup traditions have returned ahead of the tournament. From remote villages to bustling district towns and major cities, rooftops, electric poles, telecom towers and even treetops are being covered in Argentina’s sky blue and white or Brazil’s iconic green and yellow. And then there are the flags. Not ordinary ones, but gigantic creations stretching 400 or even 500 feet in length, continuing a uniquely Bangladeshi World Cup tradition.
This year, fans in Naogaon offered perhaps the most heartwarming example of that culture. In Porsha Upazila, Brazil supporters collected donations to create a massive 400-foot Brazilian flag. What stood out, however, was that Argentina supporters from the same area also contributed financially to the project.
It was a refreshing reversal of the fierce rivalry that usually defines supporters of the two nations in Bangladesh. Instead of competing through taunts, debates or contests over who could build the larger flag, fans displayed a rare sense of harmony and mutual respect. Rivalries, not enmity. Moments like these reflect football’s identity as a truly global game, one that belongs to the masses.
The passion also reveals itself through jerseys and unwavering support. While travelling abroad to watch matches remains beyond the reach of most fans, Bangladeshis continue to gather at tea stalls and public spaces to watch games on giant screens late into the night.
At times, the support reaches extraordinary levels. In Fatullah, Narayanganj, during the last edition of World Cup, one Brazil supporter once painted his entire house in Brazil’s colours and famously named it the “Brazil House.”
The dominance of Argentina and Brazil is equally visible in the jersey market. Although kits of several European nations enjoy some popularity, the overwhelming demand remains centred around these two South American giants. From roadside vendors and online shops to Dhaka’s Gulistan Sports Market and high-end shopping malls, Argentina and Brazil jerseys continue to dominate sales.
At Gulistan Sports Market, Argentina and Brazil jersey occupy the largest share. Even the sports accessory stores opposite the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, usually filled with cricket gear and jerseys, have already begun displaying Argentina and Brazil kits prominently on their hangers. The owner of Khaza Sports noted that a significant portion of their seasonal revenue during the World Cup comes solely from selling jerseys of these two teams.
The World Cup excitement also draws in those who rarely watch football throughout the year because of busy schedules or the relentless calendar of club football. Often labelled “seasonal fans,” they nonetheless become deeply invested once the tournament begins.
They have already joined the debates, traded statistics, engaged in endless banter and passionately argued over World Cup titles and footballing greatness. Brazil supporters proudly point to their record five World Cup trophies, while Argentina fans respond with the confidence of defending champions.
Altogether, even before the opening whistle of the World Cup has been blown, the sounds of Argentina-Brazil rivalry have already echoed across Bangladesh. Argentina have been drawn in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan, while Brazil will face Morocco, Haiti and Scotland in Group C of the expanded 48-team tournament. By the time the competition officially begins, the frenzy is certain to reach another level. In truth, it already has.
