Football is a game that millions of people around the world participate in. It is called a kind of universal game. If we look at the scenarios of a few years back then we can say that football was not a popular game. But, now the situation has completely changed. FIFA is called ” The Greatest Show in the World “. It occurs every 4 years.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is so far the most expensive arrangement of a football tournament. It’s taking place in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December. It’s the first time to be held in an Arabian country. But the choice to host a World Cup there has been a massive soiree of controversy. To erase controversy the spotlight was reflected upon some positive sides of the country like strong security, perfect football weather, the richness of the ground etc.
Well, it is happening in a country but the craze of different teams’ fanbase is evident worldwide. In this World Cup, there are 32 teams competing against each other. From the very beginning of the FIFA World Cup tournament, people used to support Argentina and Brazil, as their favourites. But nowadays, In our country apart from Brazil and Argentina, some people support Spain, and Germany and very few people support countries like the Netherlands, France, and Portugal. Moreover, the reign of Argentina and Brazil still carried on.
Bangladesh is neither a good football nation nor a great football team. Those people who have a good connection to football hardly even know that a country with huge crazy supporters is living in a country called Bangladesh. But the hype of the tournament is tremendously huge here. No one would believe that Bangladesh is not participating in the World Cup when they see the hype of the tournament here. From Teknaf to Tetulia. From Dhaka to Chittagong, from 5-star places to simple tea stalls one can feel the warmth of the football World Cup as well as the fire of the stove. There are rarely any rooftops without a flag of their favourite team. Some people paint their houses with the colour of their favourite eleven. People make arrangements to watch every match with friends and family or distinguish between community or public gatherings. Even they buy jerseys for their favourite team.
When does it begin?
In 1982, Bangladesh television began telecasting World Cup matches live. Through this, the kids of the 70s and 80s learned about Pele and Maradona. Sometime later, colour TVs started to become popular and the craziness started spreading too.
Why are Bangladeshi football fans so hooked up with Brazil and Argentina?
Supporting Brazil and Argentina has been from the old days. It is like a family inheritance. People support them and love to adjoin themselves in conflict with each other in order to prove which one is the best. Judging from the flags flying from supporters’ rooftops, it’s clear that the majority of numbers cordially support the Brazil and Argentina duo. During the World Cup tournament, huge verbal conflicts between people happen. While you are sitting in a roadside tea stall, you can surely feel the hype of the supporters.
Limitless craziness –
- A man in Bangladesh sold his mango garden to arrange money to make a four km long flag of South Korea in the FIFA World Cup.
- Some rickshaw pullers drew their rickshaw with the colour of their favourite team.
- In Rangamati, a bridge is coloured with the colour of Argentina and Brazil.
- On the occasion of the football World Cup, social media is filled with the most special edition of lungi.
- People arrange displaying matches by bug screen at the important points of the roads such as TSC, CU, DU etc. Nagad is sponsoring some big screens over Dhaka city.
- The students of every University watch every match at their own University with friends overnight.
- After winning a match people go for a rally with flags and banners to show their joy and support for the team. Sometimes their craze crosses all limits in such a way that many physical clashes happen.
Answers of all the love –
**“For years the national team Shirt has transmitted madness throughout the world because we had Diago, now Leo. It makes us happy that there are people in Bangladesh and many other countries standing with us. Thanks to the people of Bangladesh. ”
( Lionel Scaloni, Coach of Argentina Football team )
** ” Whenever you participate in a football World Cup the whole community of Argentina will support you, I promise. ”
(Random Argentine lady)
However, football teaches us a lot of things such as the name on the front of the T-Shirt being more important than the one on the back. Though the people of Bangladesh are very much attached to these international tournaments their emotions vary up to the mark. The excitement of a match while Martinez failed to save a ball came across thousands of miles away. No one can find the love, frustration, happiness, the nostalgia and craze in people in any other country in the world. Long live football, and Long live Bangladesh.
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Writer
Intern
Lutfur Nahar Nowrin
Content Writing Department
YSSE