Whenever the FIFA World Cup roles around every four years, the world stops turning nad football fever takes over across the continents. As nations from all across the globe take part in the greatest and biggest stage in the world’s most popular game.
The game’s greatest stars put on the shirt of their nations in what is often considered the pinnacle of a players career, and it’s similar for the fans.
Travelling to support your team at a World Cup finals can often be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and with it brings sometimes unprecedented levels of fandom from noise, celebrations and passion in the stands of stadiums too scenes on the streets both in the host nation and back home at every goal scored and every win secured.
Patriotism and National Pride
Supporting your nation at a World Cup goes beyond hoping the team wins, representing the country through it’s football team. With the success of the team seen as success for the nation, with World Cup fever taking over countries and a sense of patriotism at an all-time high.
And it’s due to that sense of major international tournament fever and heightened patriotism that those who especially identify with the spirit of their national team and their country as a whole feels a stronger sense of pride and as a result will back their side no matter what challenges may face them.
However, this mentality is not exclusive to those who support their own particular nation at football’s biggest tournament, as it also applies to those who choose to attach support also to another nation’s side of their choice.
Why Do Some Root For Other Nations?
Supporting another nation at a FIFA World Cup finals may seem slightly odd without explanation, but there can be multiple reasons as to why many may choose to fully back a nation from which they are not from.
Sometimes, these reasons are politically-based. And no where else is this more seen than in the Asian nation of Bangaladesh, where due to their own nation’s lack of talent and as a result appearances at a tournament, much of the country has adopted Argentina as their side of choice to strongly support and back at the World Cup.
This is the power of football ❤️@Argentina fans in Bangladesh celebrating Lionel Messi's goal in the #FIFAWorldCup victory over Mexico last night ???pic.twitter.com/HSE6JGGRsw
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) November 27, 2022
Bangladesh’s support and feelings towards the Argentina national team, and particularly Lionel Messi, borders on obsession.
The 2022 World Cup saw Argentina finally win the FIFA World Cup for the third time in their history, and the first time since their unfancied 1986 side were led to glory in Mexico by Diego Maradona. And aside from in Buenos Aires and the whole of Argentina itself, no where were their celebrations and scenes stronger than in Bangladesh
Fanzones full of hundreds of fans were seen going crazy in celebration as Messi and Argentina overcame France in the final in Qatar during the final of the 2022 tournament to become champions of the world. Scenes that have once again been seen as Messi became the all-time top goalscorer in World Cup history.
Historical and Political Affiliations
The reason for the Bangladesh Argentine obsession is due to the English colonisation of the country, where Bangladesh found itself under British control for nearly 200 years by the time Argentina met England in the quarter-finals of the 1986 tournament. And in one of the most famous matches in the history of the game, Maradona scored two of the most iconic goals ever scored to send Argentina to the semi-finals.
That iconic Argentine victory was celebrated wildly by many in Bangladesh who chose to back Argentina due to wanting to see England knocked out. And the triumph of Maradona and co. that day in 1986 began a strong bond between Argentina;s national team and many in Bangladesh, who have continued their backing of Argentina forty years on.
The Magic of the Underdog
Another factor is the magic of the underdog. Particularly relevant at the 2026 World Cup due to the expanded format which includes a record 48 teams, including nations such as Cabo Verde and Curucao get to experience everything that comes with playing at football’s greatest stage for the first time in decades, or perhaps ever. And many, especially those who don’t either hold a connection to their national side or whose team fails to compete in a particular event, sees themselves rooting strongly throughout the tournament for these underdog nation.
Everyone, especially neutrals, love an underdog story. As there’s few greater charms in the beautiful game than seeing an unfancied side, who may have not even been given a chance ahead of an individual match or event, punch above their weight and grab n unexpected result through hard work, resilience and determination. Something that many feel an identity towards.
Conclusion
The World Cup is where expectation, dreams and hope are the highest amongst supporters. And that, combined with patriotism, national identity and pride, means many will back their teams no matter what they may face, believing fully that success could very well be on the doorstep.
But the magic of the World Cup isn’t restricted to those nations who were lucky enough to be able to experience what playing at the tournament means and represents. Those who don’t get to experience their own nation can easily find themselves rooting for another, whether that’d due to historical political reasons, nostalgia and admiration for former players or love for an underdog story. Many fans also find extra excitement in the tournament by looking for a banker bet of the day to enhance their matchday experience. Fans will back whoever they choose to the maximum during the magical six weeks of a FIFA World Cup.
