Football fever grips Bangladesh as markets buzz with jersey sales

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off on Thursday, excitement surrounding the world's biggest football spectacle has already swept across Bangladesh, with fans flocking to markets to purchase jerseys and flags of their favourite teams ahead of the tournament's kickoff.

The FIFA World Cup 2026, to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will mark a historic milestone as 48 nations compete in the tournament for the first time.

Although Bangladesh failed to secure a spot in the tournament, football enthusiasts from all walks of life are eagerly awaiting the month-long event. The excitement is visible in offices, businesses, restaurants, tea stalls and neighbourhood gathering spots across the country.

The enthusiasm is particularly evident in retail markets, where sales of team jerseys and national flags have surged in the run-up to the tournament.

During a visit to markets at Gulistan and the Maulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium on Monday, this FE correspondent found large numbers of football fans of different ages and professions busy purchasing jerseys and flags of their favourite teams.

Alongside established sportswear outlets, numerous makeshift stalls on footpaths and roadsides in the Gulistan area are also attracting customers by offering jerseys and flags at lower prices.

Traders said jerseys of Argentina, Brazil and Spain were currently the most sought-after items among football fans. Jerseys of Saudi Arabia and Iran were also drawing interest from a section of customers.

"World Cup means great excitement. I purchased two fan-edition Argentina jerseys for myself and my son because Argentina is my favourite team," said Md Mizanur Rahman, a banker, while shopping.

Group purchases are also common among the fanbase. "We have purchased 20 fan edition jerseys of our favourite team, Argentina," said Md Rafin, who was shopping with his friends at Gulistan. Brazil supporter Md Jamil Hasan said he had purchased 20 jerseys for family members and friends to celebrate the tournament.

Retailers reported brisk business ahead of the World Cup, expressing optimism that sales would increase further once the matches begin.

"The volume of jersey sales is satisfactory and we expect demand to rise after the tournament starts," said Md Sujan, a staff member at Bangladesh Sports in Gulistan.

He said the store was selling jerseys of Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Germany and several other participating countries. Prices of quality jerseys ranged between Tk 1,000 and Tk 1,500.

Md Shaheen, manager of Galaxy Style and Sports in Gulistan, said the shop had been experiencing a busy period due to strong demand for jerseys and national flags.

Football merchandise sellers said customers generally choose between fan-edition and player-edition jerseys. Fan-edition jerseys, often referred to as replica jerseys, are made from more durable and affordable polyester fabric for everyday use, while player-edition jerseys use high-performance materials similar to those worn by professional footballers on the field.

Meanwhile, roadside vendors and makeshift stall owners said lower-priced jerseys were proving popular among budget-conscious fans.

Md Masud, a vendor near the Maulana Bhashani Stadium area, said Argentina and Brazil jerseys accounted for most of his sales.

"We are mainly selling Argentina and Brazil jerseys. Prices range between Tk 200 and Tk 300," he said. National flags of participating countries are also witnessing strong demand, with prices ranging from Tk 100 to Tk 1,000 depending on size and quality.

With only a couple of days remaining before the opening match, traders expect the World Cup fever to intensify further as fans prepare to rally behind their favourite teams in what promises to be one of the most anticipated football tournaments in history.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com