Postgraduate student of the Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka

Sports diplomacy refers to the unique power of sport to bring people and countries closer, bridging cultural, political, and social divides. For instance, Bangladesh and Argentina could not be farther apart in terms of language and culture. Geographically, there is a 17,000 kilometer gap between them. This distance, however, has melted away following Argentina’s win in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

It might sound surprising, but many football lovers in Bangladesh are Argentina fans. Maradona’s magical performance in the 1986 World Cup, which led his team to victory, created a burning passion among Bangladeshis for Argentine football. By becoming the true heir to Maradona’s legacy decades later, Messi has managed to keep this flame alive.

Bangladesh won a special place in the hearts of Argentines during the World Cup. And thanks to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, their fans got the attention of the world. Such devotion did not go unnoticed, as Argentines reciprocated the love by waving the Bangladesh flag during their post-World Cup celebrations. 

The country’s support for the Messi-led squad brought not only fans from both countries but also their governments. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sent a congratulatory letter to Argentina’s government following the World Cup win. President Alberto Fernández thanked her and expressed strong interest in reopening an embassy in the country. 

Argentina was among the first to recognize Bangladesh as an independent country. Although diplomatic relations began in 1972 and an embassy was set up in Dhaka two years later,  Argentina’s military government shut it down in 1978. Despite the closure, culture, sports, football, and literature have kept this relationship alive. 

On February 27, 2023, exactly one year ago, Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero opened the country’s new embassy in the Banani area of Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, 45 years after its closure. 

The event made the rekindling of this relationship official, opening up more opportunities for mutual exchange. Emiliano Martínez, goalkeeper of the World Cup-winning Argentine team, paid a courtesy visit to Bangladesh in July of 2023. The Argentine Football Association (AFA, for its Spanish initials) extended its best wishes to the Bangladesh cricket team before their ICC ODI World Cup 2023 opening match. 

This is also an opportunity for Argentina to help the development of football in Bangladesh. Last August, Bangladesh national team captain Jamal Bhuyan signed with Argentine Club Sol de Mayo. There is also a deal in place to allow young Bangladeshi footballers to practice in Argentina. Similarly, our country can help popularize cricket in Latin America.

The two countries have also agreed to strengthen commercial and business ties. Argentina can buy ready-made garments (RMG), high-quality pharmaceuticals, jute and jute goods, leather, and footwear. Bangladesh’s RMG industry exports to Latin American countries can facilitate economic convenience. If the young generation of football-loving Argentines can be encouraged to use our products, the country can be a major market for Bangladesh.

The agricultural sector, in particular, has a significant role in finding possible common ground for the two countries’ landscapes and environments. Argentina exported US$876 million worth of soybeans, soybean oil, wheat, and corn products to Bangladesh in 2021, up from US$450 million in 2020. 

On the other hand, Bangladesh exported only US$17.5 million worth of knitwear, non-knitwear, and textile footwear products to Argentina in 2020. Bilateral trade between the two was US$765 million in 2022.

Bangladesh’s trade deficit with Argentina can be lowered by increasing inter-trade and mutual communication. However, our products face tariffs ranging from 8% to 35% when entering the Argentine market. In addition, there are also barriers, such as anti-dumping policies.

Both countries share a special bond that goes beyond politics and diplomacy. Through this human bond, the two have created an opportunity to exchange products and knowledge. Football has helped in this sense, operating as a soft power bringing the two countries closer together.

From football to friendship, ties at the countries’ trade and policy levels are strengthening. The hope is that Bangladesh and Argentina can develop a long-term partnership as business and strategic allies. Their relationship can also be viewed as an excellent example of cultural and diplomatic exchanges between people from two distant continents. 

Prime evidence that friendship knows no distance, as sports connect us all.