The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially got underway yesterday with a vibrant opening ceremony at Mexico’s iconic Azteca stadium, followed by opening matches in Canada and the United States. Yet for a vast section of Bangladeshi fans, the tournament truly begins past midnight tonight when five-time champions Brazil take on 2022 semifinalists Morocco at New Jersey Stadium.
While enthusiasm for domestic football has waned over the past two decades, with traditional crowd-pullers Mohammedan Sporting Club and Abahani struggling to attract supporters, World Cup fever remains as intense as ever. Every four years, the tournament grips the country in a way that recalls the golden era of the Mohammedan-Abahani rivalry from the early 1980s to the late 2000s.
Former national forward-turned-coach Alfaz Ahmed believes Brazil’s opening match serves as the spark for that nationwide excitement, even though this Selecao side is less familiar to supporters than the squads of recent editions.
"Brazil begin their journey tonight, three days before Argentina kick off their campaign. I think the fans of both sides will remain excited because Brazil fans will expect a winning start, while Argentina fans will hope for Brazil to lose," Alfaz told The Daily Star.
Alfaz, an AFC 'A' Licence coach who guided Mohammedan to league title in 2025, understands the pulse of the local fanbase better than most.
"The post-match discussions among the two groups will take to the table the next day. I think this is the beauty of the rivalry among the fans in Bangladesh."
Despite describing Brazil as somewhat of an unknown quantity, Alfaz still backs them to edge the contest.
"I think most Brazil fans hardly know the squad or who is going to start in the playing eleven, but still, Brazil are Brazil -- a team built for the grand stage," he said. "We are expecting a fighting match between Brazil and Morocco, but I think Brazil will come out successfully."
He added that coach Carlo Ancelotti’s vast experience will be crucial in shaping this new-look squad into a cohesive unit.
Bangladesh remains largely split into two camps -- Brazil and Argentina -- with comparatively modest followings for England, Germany, Italy, France and Spain. The local attachment to Brazil spans generations, often beginning with a brief introduction to Pele in school textbooks and continuing through a succession of icons including Garrincha, Socrates, Zico, Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, Kaka, Cafu and Neymar Jr.
For many supporters, that nostalgia is precisely why Brazil’s first match feels like the tournament’s true curtain-raiser.
"I’m really excited to watch Brazil and am getting ready for the match. You can say our World Cup begins tonight," said Shah Nowshad Pallab, a private service holder who traces his affection for the team back to those childhood textbook lessons.
"Brazil has always been the pioneering nation in playing scintillating football, which is the main attraction for me. I am hoping Brazil will finally complete its Hexa with this balanced squad under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti."
