From Maradona to Messi: Bangladesh's enduring love for Argentina

From Maradona to Messi, Bangladesh’s enduring love for Argentina reflects how football fandom can cross continents and generations. The article describes Argentina supporters in Bangladesh, a country of about 170 million people that has never qualified for the World Cup, but still follows the South American team with intense devotion. Ahead of Sunday’s final in New Jersey, where Argentina’s champions will face Spain, the passion is visible in Dhaka through blue-and-white rooftops and murals of Lionel Messi. Motor mechanic Nurul Islam tells AFP he felt tense during Argentina’s match against Egypt, then became confident Argentina would win. Coverage links the fanbase to Diego Maradona’s 1986 World Cup performances, passed down from father to son. It also reports that replica shirt demand has surged: at Galaxy Sports, Argentina jerseys make up roughly 30% of total sales, and some parents bought jerseys for newborns.