Football Fever Sweeps Through Dhaka Streets

Md Jahidul Islam

Dhaka: The countdown of the FIFA World Cup 2026 is over. The greatest spectacle begins tonight and kicks off across Mexico, the United States, and Canada. 

Hours before the opening whistle of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Bangladesh’s capital is already awash in football colors. 

Giant Argentine and Brazilian flags flutter from rooftops, narrow alleyways are decorated with banners and murals, and conversations in tea stalls revolve around predictions, rivalries, and dreams of football glory.

Although Bangladesh has never qualified for the World Cup, the tournament remains one of the country’s most celebrated global events. Every four years, football transforms neighborhoods across Dhaka into vibrant hubs of fan culture, rivaling the atmosphere of a national festival.

The strongest displays of enthusiasm can be found in Old Dhaka. 

Supporters have already organized colorful processions carrying their favorite teams’ flags, while residents compete to display the largest banners and most elaborate decorations.

“I’ve supported Argentina since childhood,” said Titumir, a resident preparing to hang a 30-foot Argentine flag from his rooftop.“The celebration starts long before the tournament begins. Watching matches late at night, discussing football with friends, and celebrating victories make the World Cup a special time for us.”

For many Bangladeshis, football loyalty is inherited across generations. Jamiul Islam, a Brazil supporter from Old Dhaka, said he now watches matches with his children just as he once watched with his father and older brothers.

“Teams may be different, but football brings everyone together,” he said.

One of the city’s most recognizable football landmarks is KM Das Lane in Tikatuli, popularly known as “FIFA Lane.” Its walls are covered with portraits of legendary footballers and colorful murals, while local children play football in the streets regardless of the weather. Residents say giant screens will be installed to broadcast World Cup matches.

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Beyond Old Dhaka, football fever is spreading across neighborhoods such as Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Motijheel, Uttara, Badda, Khilgaon, Jatrabari, Gulshan, Banani, and others. In Aminbazar, on the western edge of the capital, organizers have decorated a bridge with the flags of all participating World Cup nations, attracting football fans from across the city.

The excitement is also creating a seasonal economic boost. 

Markets in Mirpur, Farmgate, Gulistan, and other commercial areas are crowded with shoppers buying jerseys, flags, whistles, and football-themed souvenirs. Vendors say demand for Argentina’s sky-blue-and-white colors and Brazil’s yellow-and-green jerseys remains particularly strong.

“Sales increased several times before the World Cup,” said flag seller Yasin Rana in Agargaon. “Many customers are looking for oversized flags to display on rooftops. It feels like the football festival has already begun.”Football rivalries often play out within households. It is common to find a Brazil-supporting father, an Argentina-supporting son, a Germany-supporting daughter, and a Portugal-supporting older sibling gathered around the same television. 

During matches, living rooms become miniature stadiums filled with cheers, debates, and friendly competition.

Tea stalls across the city have also become informal football forums, where fans spend hours discussing tactics, star players, and championship contenders. The debates can be as intense as the action on the pitch itself.

For many residents, the World Cup is more than a sporting event. It serves as a social gathering that bridges political, economic, and generational divides. Differences are temporarily set aside as communities unite around a shared passion for the world’s most popular game.

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Dhaka may be thousands of kilometers from Buenos Aires or Rio de Janeiro, but during a World Cup year, parts of the Bangladeshi capital feel connected to both. 

As flags continue to rise above rooftops and football murals spread across neighborhoods, the city is once again preparing to embrace the sport’s biggest celebration.

With the tournament still ahead, Dhaka’s skyline is already sending a clear message: the World Cup is coming, and millions of Bangladeshis are ready to dream along with it.

The greatest tournament opens in Mexico City with Mexico facing South Africa, accompanied by a star-studded opening ceremony featuring performers including J Balvin, Mana, and other international artists. Separate celebrations will also take place in the US and Canada.

Md Jahidul Islam is an award-winning journalist based in Dhaka, Bangladesh and currently serves as Senior Reporter at The Daily Kaler Kantho. He also contributes to several international media outlets. His work focuses on environment, climate change, biodiversity, urban development, politics, governance, migration, human rights, and social justice. He can be contacted at jahid.cou.edu@gmail.com

Photo Credit: Md Jahidul Islam