BANGLADESH EMBRACES ARGENTINA AND BRAZIL IN WORLD CUP FANDOM

Bangladesh, a nation of more than 170 million people, has developed substantial support for Argentina and Brazil despite its own national football team never qualifying for the World Cup. Nearly 20% of traffic to a live blog covering Argentina's opening match against Algeria on 16 June originated from Bangladesh. In Brahmanbaria, a Brazil supporter painted his house in green and yellow, the colours of Brazil's flag, and decorated the facade with murals of football players. Bangladeshi communities, both within the country and abroad, have sustained this affection for the South American teams for decades.

Support for Brazil originated in the 1970s, when the player Pelé achieved international prominence, according to reported accounts. Citizens of Bangladesh, which had gained independence from West Pakistan in 1971, related to Brazil's history as a formerly colonised nation and Pelé's rise from poverty. As the country's broadcasting infrastructure gradually improved after independence, access to international football matches expanded. Shahidul Partha, who grew up in Kulkandi in the early 2000s, recalled watching World Cup matches with around 80 villagers gathered at his family's property to view a 14-inch black-and-white television powered by battery—one of the few sets in the area.

Bangladeshi Americans have stated that supporting South American teams connects them with their cultural heritage and reminds them of their home nation. Partha, now a software engineer living in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, continues to support Brazil, describing the experience as linking him to memories of his childhood. The sustained enthusiasm for Argentine and Brazilian football among Bangladeshi populations reflects what supporters characterise as a shared experience of nations overcoming colonial histories and establishing independence.