New Delhi, July 11 -- Messi scores; the whole Bangladesh erupts with joy, with people dancing on the streets. Dhaka, Chattogram, Rangpur, and Rajshahi have been delighted with the colours of different football-playing nations battling in Mexico, Canada, and the USA in the FIFA World Cup 2026 since last June. Despite Bangladesh not participating in this great show of sports on the planet, they are very much connected with it culturally, mentally, economically, and politically.

Bangladesh is watching this FIFA World Cup from 12000 km away, but the distance or time can not bother the supporters of Bangladesh at all. This underscores the real scenario of Bangladesh, how much they love football. Interestingly, these huge supporters should hav...