With the FIFA World Cup 2026 set to kick off today, June 11, football fever has swept across the country, boosting sales of national team flags in markets across Dhaka.
Football enthusiasts are flocking to markets to buy flags of their favourite teams, particularly Brazil and Argentina, while vendors report a sharp rise in both retail and wholesale sales as the tournament approaches.
A visit to Gulistan, one of the capital’s largest hubs for football merchandise, found rows of flags of different sizes hanging along footpaths, around Stadium Market and on nearby streets. Similar scenes were visible in several other parts of the city.
Vendors are selling flags suitable for homes, rooftops, balconies, motorcycles and private vehicles, with customers eager to display their support for their preferred teams ahead of the month-long football show.
Traders said that demand had increased significantly over the past few weeks, with wholesale buyers purchasing large quantities for resale in district towns and rural markets.
Md Abdul Matin, owner of Joy Sports, who has been running a flag business at Hall Market in Gulistan since 1990, said that sales had increased considerably at both retail and wholesale levels.
A long-time supporter of Argentina, Matin said that his admiration for the late football legend Diego Maradona inspired him to enter the flag business.
‘The World Cup is almost here and demand is growing every day. We are receiving more customers than usual,’ he told New Age.
Despite rising fabric prices, flag prices have remained relatively stable compared with the previous World Cup, he said.
According to Matin, advances in automation and lower production costs have helped keep prices affordable.
‘Previously, if labour costs for making a flag were around Tk 20 per piece. Now many workers can produce the same flag for Tk 8 to Tk 10,’ he said.
A foot flag that sold for Tk 70-75 four years ago now sells for Tk 80-85, while wholesale prices range between Tk 65 and Tk 70.
Flags are available in several sizes, including 2.5 feet, 3.5 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet, 10 feet and 20 feet, with 5-foot flags being the most popular.
Matin said that local manufacturers now used digital printing technology to produce flags domestically, reducing reliance on imports from China.
He estimated that about 60 per cent of current demand was for Argentina flags and 40 per cent for Brazil, although flags of Portugal, Germany, France and Spain were also attracting buyers.
Alongside foreign team flags, many customers are also purchasing small Bangladeshi flags as a symbol of the nation’s love.
Yahia Khan, a New Market-based clothing trader who has shifted temporarily to selling football merchandise, said that business was encouraging.
‘On average, I sell 50 to 60 flags a day. Depending on the size, prices range from Tk 200 to Tk 1,000,’ he said.
He added that many customers were also buying small Bangladeshi flags priced between Tk 40 and Tk 100 alongside the flags of their favourite teams.
Hasan Ali, a seasonal trader selling flags and jerseys from a van near Shaheed Abrar Fahad Avenue in Gulistan, said that last-minute buyers had boosted sales.
‘This year, Brazil flags are selling slightly more than Argentina flags. During the previous World Cup, Argentina was ahead in demand,’ he said.
Meanwhile, customers said that they were willing to spend extra money to celebrate the tournament.
Rahmat, who travelled from Manikganj and supports Germany, said that he came to Gulistan to buy both a jersey and a large flag.
‘I have supported Germany since 2006. I want to fly a big flag on my rooftop during the World Cup,’ he said.
Many buyers expressed similar sentiments, saying that displaying flags had become an integral part of World Cup celebrations, reflecting both their passion for football and loyalty to their favourite teams.
In the 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, 48 nations will be competing for the first time.
