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Published : 15 Jun 2026, 06:48 PM
Every love story needs three people: one who cannot let go, one who cannot stop bringing up the past and one who never asked to be involved in the place. For Bangladesh's football fans that love triangle consists of Brazil, Argentina and Germany.
Brazil and Argentina have been together for as long as most Bangladeshis can remember. Not together-together, of course. More like that neighbourhood couple who claim they hate each other but somehow spend all day talking about each other. Brazil arrives at the World Cup dressed in yellow carrying five World Cups and the confidence of someone who peaked in school and never quite got over it. Argentina arrives wearing three stars, a World Cup trophy and the energy of someone who has finally found success and wants absolutely everyone to know about it.
Every four years they meet. Every four years they fight. Every four years Bangladesh picks sides. Flags go up, friendships become fragile and Facebook comment sections become war zones. At first the arguments are civil.
"Pelé."
"Messi."
"Five stars."
"Three stars."
"Aesthetic football."
"World Cup champions."
Normal relationship stuff.
Then someone mentions Germany. Germany for the record was not part of the conversation. Germany was sitting quietly in the corner minding its business. Possibly fixing its defence. Possibly winning something. Nobody knows. Once Germany's name appears everything changes. The atmosphere becomes uncomfortable. Brazil suddenly looks away. Argentina suddenly looks interested.
Someone says 7. Not seven-one. Just seven.
The remaining one is understood. Like a family secret, a court verdict or an ex's name that should not be mentioned but always is. Brazil immediately protests. Argentina immediately grins. Germany remains emotionally unavailable. This has been the arrangement for twelve years. If Brazil and Argentina are the characters of this relationship, Germany is the third person in the relationship who accidentally became the entire personality of the argument.
The funny thing is that Germany has broken Argentina’s heart too. Germany defeated Argentina in the World Cup finals. Germany has caused pain on both sides of this relationship. Yet somehow in Bangladesh Germany became Argentina’s favourite person. Not because of friendship or loyalty. Because Germany once gave Argentina the greatest gift a football fan can receive: an argument-winning statistic. No relationship survives that.
Today Brazil cannot post a video of Ronaldinho without Argentina arriving underneath carrying a virtual bottle of 7UP.
Scientists have not yet discovered why?
Perhaps they never will.
Meanwhile Germany remains football's mysterious species. You rarely hear from Germany. Yet somehow Germany continues to influence Brazil-Argentina arguments than entire football federations.
A Germany supporter can remain silent for four years. Still achieve more psychological damage with two numbers than most people manage in a lifetime. It is a level of efficiency government institutions can only dream of. So, the triangle survives. Brazil still remembers its past, Argentina still enjoys its glorious present, Germany still sends mixed signals and Bangladeshi fans still take everything personally.
Somewhere in Rio de Janeiro people have probably moved on. Somewhere in Buenos Aires people have probably moved on. Somewhere in Berlin people have definitely moved on. In a tea stall in Brahmanbaria on a college field in Noakhali or inside a Facebook comment section at 3:17am, in the morning the love triangle remains alive and well.
Because true love fades. Football rivalries fade. Players retire. World Cups. Go. Some relationships are simply too toxic to end. Especially when one of them keeps showing up with a bottle of 7UP.
The love triangle of Brazil, Argentina and Germany is not going to end soon.
[Shakila Mim is Communications Associate at UNDP Bangladesh]
