Bangladesh’s 2026 World Cup Craze Centers on Argentina

During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, neighborhoods across Dhaka erupted with blue-and-white Argentine flags, and giant screens were set up so residents could watch every match. Although Bangladesh has never qualified for the tournament, the nation’s 175 million people embraced the Argentine squad as their own, while the country’s own cricket team, playing a series against Zimbabwe, received little attention.

New York Times

Bangladesh first broadcast World Cup games on television in 1982, a moment that introduced the sport to a cricket-obsessed population. Veteran sports journalist Shamim Chowdhury attributes the deeper connection to the “individual brilliance” of Diego Maradona in the 1986 World Cup, when Argentina defeated West Germany to claim the title. Historians note that Argentina’s 1986 victory over England resonated symbolically for Bangladesh, a nation formerly under British colonial rule.

New York Times

The current fervor highlights a shift in public focus from cricket to soccer during the World Cup. While the national cricket side competes against Zimbabwe, the widespread display of Argentine colors and communal viewing parties underscore how a foreign team can dominate the national sports conversation for the tournament’s duration.

New York Times

Bangladesh’s enthusiastic adoption of Argentina illustrates how global sporting events can forge unexpected cultural bonds, linking a South Asian nation’s post-colonial identity to a South American football power. The phenomenon also reveals the capacity of major tournaments to temporarily reorient national attention away from established sports traditions.

New York Times

> “That was the moment when Bangladesh fell in love with the World Cup.” — Shamim Chowdhury, journalist who has covered sports in Bangladesh for over 30 years

New York Times