Bangladesh vs Singapore: Fans gather hours early at National Stadium

The Bangladesh national football team will take on Singapore in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers at 7 PM today. Excitement is already buzzing around Dhaka’s National Stadium, with fans gathering well before kickoff.

Thousands have eagerly sought tickets online, but with only 18,300 tickets released by the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), many were left disappointed after the tickets quickly sold out. Despite this, fans who secured seats showed visible enthusiasm. Since morning, crowds have congregated around the Gulistan intersection and stadium grounds, waving national flags, wearing team jerseys, and holding banners and placards.

Though gates were scheduled to open at 2 PM, they only opened partially some time later. Still, the festive atmosphere outside the stadium started hours earlier. The 36,000-seat stadium is expected to be filled to capacity.

Among the crowd, a young fan caught attention by sporting a hairstyle similar to Hamza Chowdhury’s, sparking conversations. Placards featuring messages such as "Hamza-Shamit-Fahmidul’s address; Padma Meghna Jamuna" and "Let Bengal football return—the melody of millions" were prominently displayed.

For security reasons, gates will close at 5 PM sharp, and no entry will be allowed afterward, prompting fans to line up early to secure their spots.

For those unable to attend, T Sports will broadcast the match live on big screens across several locations, including Rabindra Sarobar in Dhaka, MA Aziz Stadium in Chattogram, Mymensingh, Rangpur, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Khulna, and Barishal. Additionally, former captain Aminul Haque has arranged screenings at 12 venues in the Rupnagar-Pallabi area, including Gharwa More, Doren More, and Shaheed Asif Chattar.

The 19th Asian Cup will be hosted by Saudi Arabia in 2027. Today’s qualifier is crucial for Bangladesh’s hopes of reaching the tournament, and the nation is united in dreaming of a victorious start.