The AFC Asian Cup qualifier between Bangladesh and Singapore on June 10 was billed as a turning point — the long-awaited “rebirth” of Bangladesh football.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) built unprecedented hype around the match. Rumours of international celebrities, promises of a “never-before” experience, and a Tk60-lakh show created anticipation rarely seen in local football.

But for many fans, the grand promises unravelled into frustration and chaos — both online and off.

The digital disaster
The excitement turned quickly to dismay when fans tried to buy tickets.

With around 18,300 general gallery tickets (roughly 22,000 in total), demand far outstripped supply. The official ticketing platform, Ticktify Live, collapsed under pressure — servers crashed, buyer names got mixed up, and queues led nowhere.

Some gallery tickets were shown as ‘on request’ but never materialised. On matchday, tickets worth Tk 400 were being resold for Tk 4,000–5,000 outside the stadium.

“I was refreshing for hours but got nothing,” said a fan.

“And on Tuesday, the same ticket was sold outside the stadium for five times the price.”

To make matters worse, tickets for the less-hyped Bhutan qualifier were released after the Singapore ones — denying BFF a chance to test and fix the system earlier.

Chaos at the gates
On matchday, the problems became physical.

Thousands of fans without tickets showed up.

The Bangladesh Football Ultras — offered only 100 tickets after requesting 3,000 — clashed with security, blocked the team bus, and forced open gates. Authorities responded by shutting the gates early, leading to confusion and overcrowding.

Inside, even ticket-holders couldn’t find their seats. Overbooking meant many fans had to stand on staircases, squeeze into corners, or sit on the concrete.

But that was just the start.

Most fans entered the stadium three to four hours before kickoff. They were barred from bringing any food or water — and once inside, found precious little on offer.

Food stalls were few and overwhelmed. A 2-litre bottle of water cost Tk 600. Small packets of chips were sold at double their MRP.

“How do you expect us to roar for the team if we’re dehydrated?” asked a fan from Chittagong. “We came early, followed the rules — and they didn’t even provide basic drinking water.”

What was meant to be a grand celebration turned into a survival test.

The empty spectacle
BFF had promised a spectacle. What fans got was a pre-recorded concert and a dull laser show.

There were no international celebrities. The show felt underwhelming and failed to lift spirits.

“For a budget of Tk 60 lakh, this was really disappointing,” said a fan who travelled from Feni. “We’ve seen this kind of setup back in 2017 or 2018 league finals.”

Many felt the whole spectacle would have been better suited to the Bhutan game — when the pressure and attention weren’t so high.

On-field disappointment
The match reflected the chaos outside.

Bangladesh started brightly but conceded two goals. Rakib Hossain’s late strike gave hope, but the match ended in a 1–2 loss. Yet the fans didn’t give up — staying till the end, chanting and cheering with pride.

Even the media wasn’t spared. Journalists reported no working Wi-Fi in the press zone, despite prior promises of better infrastructure.

Players, too, had faced issues during the Bhutan game — water scarcity, dressing room leaks, faulty air conditioning — though these were resolved by the Singapore match.

What BFF got right
Despite the failures, there were positives.

The biggest success? Football fever is back. 

After years of neglect, galleries were packed with a passionate crowd. Eight divisional cities had official match screenings organised by BFF — something new and commendable.

Sponsorship returned after a long drought, signalling commercial interest is back.

The squad was well-prepared, and there were efforts to modernise presentation — including the use of a robotic camera dog for the first time in Bangladesh football broadcasting.

While the broadcast quality still needs work, it’s a step in the right direction.

Most importantly, people cared. The eyes of the nation were on football again — a rarity in recent times.

What needs fixing
This is a crucial moment. BFF must turn this cautionary tale into reform.

First, the ticketing system needs be rebuilt. A mixed online-offline model, with reserved categories for verified supporter groups and secure OTP logins, could ensure fairness and reach.

Second, the fan experience has to be respected. More food stalls, affordable water, clean toilets — these are not luxuries, they’re the basics.

Third, better communication is essential — clear, early announcements about ticket releases, gate closures, and matchday guidelines could reduce confusion and frustration.

BFF Vice President Fahad Karim admitted improvements are needed.

“If you ask me, personally, I was happy with the work we pulled off,” he told Daily Sun. 

“But of course, there are areas to improve. I’ve already asked the federation to have a review committee soon — we’ll see what needs to be done.”

“Yes, the water and food issue was a concern. I agree. We will try to do better next time,” he added.

The Bangladesh vs Singapore game was meant to mark a new dawn. In many ways, it did: the fans came, sponsors returned, and football felt alive again.

But the hype outpaced the delivery. 

And in the process, supporters — the heartbeat of the game — were left dehydrated, overcharged, and let down.

Still, the roar of 22,000 fans proved one thing: the love for football in Bangladesh is real. 

Now it’s time for BFF to match that passion with planning — and turn this chaos into a real comeback.