All tickets for the match were sold out the previous night. However, since yesterday morning, even under the intense midday heat, many people remained gathered at the stadium counters, holding onto the hope of securing a ticket.
At the ongoing SAFF U-20 Championship in the Maldives, Bangladeshi expatriates living in Malé have been providing remarkable support to their national team. Approximately 4,000 Bangladeshi supporters attended yesterday’s match, which saw Bangladesh hold India to a 1–1 draw.
They did not merely fill the north and south stands and seating areas. They transformed the stadium with their energy. Every forward move by a Bangladeshi player and each defensive success was met with thunderous cheers. Yesterday, Galolhu Stadium experienced an atmosphere reminiscent of its “golden era.”
“Our players drew immense motivation from the supporters,” said Bangladesh assistant coach Atiqur Rahaman Meshu. “I am very proud of the fans.”
For India’s coach, Mahesh Gawli, a packed Galolhu Stadium is nothing new. During the 2008 SAFF Championship in Malé, when he represented India’s senior team, Maldivian supporters had painted the stadium red. However, yesterday presented a different scene, with Bangladesh effectively enjoying a “home advantage” in the Maldives.
“Our players felt pressure,” Gawli said during the press conference.
A Historic Level of Support
A Bangladeshi journalist covering the tournament said he had never witnessed such support for any of the country’s sports teams outside their homeland.
“This is truly extraordinary support. Today, I felt the highest sense of national pride one can feel abroad,” he said, visibly emotional while recording the scene on his phone. “Seeing this gives me goosebumps.”
Bangladesh has long been a nation passionate about sports, particularly football and cricket. Before achieving Test status in cricket, football was the country’s most popular sport. Historically, Bangladesh also hosted one of the most competitive and vibrant football leagues in South Asia.
In the history of the SAFF Championship, some of the highest attendances have been recorded when the tournament is hosted in Bangladesh. For example, during the 2003 final, where Bangladesh defeated Maldives on penalties, approximately 25,000 fans packed the Bangabandhu Stadium in Dhaka.
A Shift in Malé
This passion for football has long existed among Bangladeshi workers in the Maldives. However, in earlier years, such as the 2000 Golden Jubilee tournament, where Maldives drew 1–1 with Bangladesh, and the following year’s Asian Club Championship, where New Radiant lost 2–1 to Bangladesh’s Muktijoddha Sangsad, Maldivian supporters dominated the stands, leaving little room for Bangladeshi fans.
Times have changed. By the 2016 friendly match between the two nations in Malé, the majority of spectators were Bangladeshi supporters. During the 2021 SAFF Championship, demand for tickets allocated to the away team became a major issue due to overwhelming interest from Bangladeshi supporters.
“Even if 10,000 tickets had been sold for this match, we would have filled the stadium,” one supporter said, highlighting that capacity was limited due to sections of the stadium being in disrepair.
Many Bangladeshi workers in the Maldives live under challenging conditions. For them, occasions like this provide a rare opportunity to celebrate, find joy, and express their love for their country.
“This is a very happy day for all of us,” a young Bangladeshi man said while leaving the stadium. “But the joy would have been even greater if we had managed to score one more goal against India.”
