Why Bangladesh cheers for Argentina at every World Cup

When the World Cup comes around, Dhaka becomes a 'little Buenos Aires'

Independence war, anti-authoritarian sentiment and underdog narrative intertwine

Maradona's 'Hand of God' built a 40-year fandom

From the Messi craze to an estimated 70 million fans in Bangladesh alone

Bangladeshi fans take part in a rally ahead of Argentina's World Cup season opener in Dhaka, Bangladesh, last week. [EPA]

By Seo Ji-yeon, The Herald Business

Every time the World Cup comes around, the streets of Dhaka are blanketed in Argentine flags. Sky-blue and white banners hang from every corner, and residents stay up until dawn watching matches in Lionel Messi jerseys. Argentina lies roughly 20,000 kilometers away, and the two countries share neither language nor culture — yet Bangladeshis cheer for Argentina as if it were their own national team.

The Financial Times recently examined this unusual phenomenon in a piece titled "Why Bangladesh cheers for Argentina at the World Cup."

Bangladesh is a cricketing powerhouse, but passion for football runs deep as well. The national team has never qualified for the World Cup, so fans have naturally gravitated toward other sides. Most back Argentina; some support Brazil.

Local sports commentator Rajib Hassan told the FT, "There may be more Argentina fans in Bangladesh than there are in Argentina."

Argentina's population is about 46 million. Bangladesh's, by contrast, is about 170 million. Local estimates suggest a significant share of the population watches the World Cup and that more than half of those viewers support Argentina — meaning the number of Argentina fans in Bangladesh alone could exceed 70 million by simple arithmetic.

The fervor, however, goes beyond admiration for footballing skill.

Bangladesh and Argentina share a history of political upheaval and social conflict. The FT argued that football has served a symbolic role in both countries, uniting people across political divides and the tensions of everyday life.

Argentine legend Diego Maradona during the 1986 World Cup. [Getty Images]

The 1986 World Cup in Mexico is often cited as the starting point of Bangladesh's Argentina fandom.

Diego Maradona scored the infamous "Hand of God" goal against England, captivating the world. Coming just after Argentina's defeat in the Falklands War, Maradona became a national hero at home — and in Bangladesh, he was embraced as a symbol of the underdog standing up to a great power.

Bangladeshi student Ayesha Humaira Waressa wrote in a local media column that "Maradona was not just a player — he was a symbol of resistance for people living with the wounds of colonial rule."

Bangladesh itself fought a fierce war of independence from Pakistan in 1971. During that struggle, the "Free Bengal Football Team" toured India, raising funds for the cause and spreading awareness of the independence movement to the international community. That history is why football came to carry political symbolism far beyond sport.

Today, Messi has taken up that torch.

Hassan Kabir, a 22-year-old university student, told the FT: "I grew up hearing stories about Maradona, and then I was captivated watching Messi play. When Argentina won in 2022, I was truly happy."

Murals of Maradona and Messi adorn walls across Bangladesh. Younger generations call this the "Messi era" and see him as a symbol of success and perseverance.

The FT concluded that in Bangladesh, Argentina has become more than just a foreign team to root for — it has become a canvas onto which people project their own history and identity.

During the World Cup, some say Argentine flags are as common as Bangladeshi ones on the streets of Dhaka — making this one of the most remarkable international fandoms football has ever produced.

sjy@heraldcorp.com