FIFA President Backs Bangladesh for Future World Cup

The dream of seeing the "Bengal Tigers" roar on the grandest stage of international football has received a significant endorsement from the highest echelon of the sport. Gianni Infantino, the President of FIFA, has expressed a firm belief that Bangladesh possesses the potential and the passion required to qualify for a future edition of the FIFA World Cup.

A Nation’s Passion Acknowledged

Bangladesh has long been recognised as a "football-mad" nation. This fervent support reaches a fever pitch every four years; during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, global headlines were dominated by the extraordinary scenes of celebration across Dhaka and beyond. This grassroots obsession has not gone unnoticed by the world governing body.

During a recent interaction on social media, a supporter directly questioned Infantino on whether Bangladesh would ever grace the tournament. The President’s response was unequivocally positive: "Absolutely, Bangladesh can play in the FIFA World Cup. Our primary objective is to ensure that nations like Bangladesh can experience their debut on this stage."

Expanding Horizons: The 2026 Precedent

Infantino highlighted that the landscape of global football is shifting. With the expansion of the tournament format, the 2026 World Cup—hosted across North America—will feature several debutants who have successfully navigated the qualifying rounds for the first time.

Investing in the "Red and Green"

The FIFA President emphasised that talent is universal, but infrastructure is not. To bridge this gap, FIFA has been channelling substantial investment into the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF). These funds are specifically earmarked for talent development and academy structures to nurture the next generation of footballers.

Captain Jamal Bhuyan, who recently had the opportunity to view the iconic World Cup trophy up close, echoed these sentiments. He maintained that while the path is difficult, the belief within the squad is unwavering. Infantino concluded by noting that with continued investment and the undeniable popularity of the sport in the region, he is "eagerly looking forward" to seeing Bangladesh compete among the elite in the near future.