Season opener highlights football’s ground realities
In a repeat encounter of last season’s Challenge Cup fixture, Federation Cup winners Bashundhara Kings thrashed Bangladesh Premier League champions Mohammedan by 4-1 in the curtain-raiser of the new football season at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Dutta Stadium in Cumilla yesterday..
20 September 2025, 02:30 AM
Interview / ‘Modern football demands athletes’
In a freewheeling interview with The Daily Star's Atique Anam at the team hotel in Dhaka, the former West Ham United midfielder opened up about his football methodology, plans for the future, the shortcomings of the federation, men's football, and the controversies he has found himself in.
27 July 2025, 04:00 AM
'Time the officials paid back for the sacrifice of players and coaching staff'
In a conversation with The Daily Star, Alfaz Ahmed spoke about the secret of Mohammedan's success in the league and what he expects from the club in the wake of this title triumph.
18 May 2025, 09:00 AM
‘Hamza has helped us raise the level and quality of our game’
In this interview with The Daily Star, Bangladesh Football Federation president Tabith Awal spoke about both women's and men's teams and the controversies surrounding football.
7 April 2025, 02:00 AM
Bangladesh football riding the Hamza wave
When Bangladesh football team captain Jamal Bhuiyan told the press on Thursday, “It feels our [Lionel] Messi is here,” about the arrival of Hamza Choudhury, he wasn’t exaggerating.
22 March 2025, 01:00 AM
Rebel women footballers at a dead end?
The 18 senior players of Bangladesh national women’s team, who have been boycotting training since head coach Peter Butler returned to the country, seem to have shot themselves on the foot after refusing to sign contracts offered by the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) on Monday.
12 February 2025, 02:04 AM
The World Cup should not be a mere extension of the IPL
For those cricket fans who have got used to enjoying the sight of batters steamrolling bowlers of all ilk over the past 65 days or so, will the forthcoming T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies may prove to be a bit of a turn-off.
28 May 2024, 18:00 PM
Should Murshedy get away with sweeping dirt under the rug?
In stark contrast to many developed nations where people in power often relinquish their positions in face of charges of corruption or incompetence even before allegations are proved in a show of true accountability -- there is a disturbing tendency to brush aside all sorts of allegations, even after proven, under the rug by the people in power in countries like Bangladesh, which ranks among the lowest in various corruption indexes.
25 May 2024, 02:00 AM
Contrasting background but similar passion to win
When defending champions France take on Argentina in the World Cup final tonight, all the focus will certainly be on the likes of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. However, two men on the pitch will perhaps play as important a role, if not more, than these two – Hugo Lloris and Emiliano Martinez.
18 December 2022, 03:30 AM
‘Argentina will win WC for their fans in Palestine’
Ihab Abu Alkheir was only eight years old when he, along with his family members in Gaza, Palestine, watched as Diego Maradona wept after losing the final of the 1990 World Cup final against Germany.
18 December 2022, 02:30 AM
A final about more than two standouts
As the four-week long football extravaganza draws to a close in the Qatari capital Doha on Sunday, expectation,
18 December 2022, 01:00 AM
Defier of odds, Croatia and Morocco hope to end on high
Following morale-shattering defeats in their semifinals of the World Cup, Croatia and Morocco have the unenviable job of picking themselves up and getting prepared for the third-place decider on Saturday.
17 December 2022, 04:00 AM
Onus on Argentina, France to keep the thrill alive
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, on Friday, hailed the Qatar World Cup as the best one ever.
16 December 2022, 18:00 PM
Rajab Ali's ordeal
Rajab Ali has been away from home for 22 years. He spent 16 years in Saudi Arabia before coming to neighbouring Qatar six years ago, and he hasn't been home for the past six years.
16 December 2022, 18:00 PM
Real lives in ‘artificial’ land
If you happen to come to Qatar from the subcontinent, you could often get confused whether you landed in an Arab land some 3000-4000 kilometres away from home or you were just in another of Bangladesh or India or Pakistan.
16 December 2022, 18:00 PM
Mbappe with world at his feet
When Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi broke the 100m dollar mark in annual earnings for the first time, both of them were in their 30s. In comparison, Kylian Mbappe broke that threshold at 23 and is about to be anointed as the richest-earning footballer of all time, according to Forbes.
16 December 2022, 03:00 AM
Messi has the whole world believing
Step aside Cristiano Ronaldo, step aside Neymar. Lionel Messi is here, and he is here for business.
15 December 2022, 03:30 AM
‘Standout’ Alvarez complements his idol
There was a poignant moment at the end of Argentina’s victory over Croatia. Julian Alvarez, who scored two goals in the 3-0 victory, went to his team’s dugout and was hugged by Lautaro Martinez, who was almost in tears.
15 December 2022, 02:30 AM
With overwhelming support, Morocco ‘dare to dream bigger’
Ever since the four semifinalists were decided, the streets and buses and metros in Doha have been occupied by fans mostly from Argentina and Morocco, with a large number of fans shuttling to the Qatari capital over the last few days.
14 December 2022, 03:30 AM
Desert Fest: Two legends on collision course
Neymar departed in tears. The Brazil No 10 cried inconsolably, only to be lifted off the pitch as the pre-tournament favourites were knocked out on penalties by Croatia in the quarterfinals at the Education City Stadium on Friday night.
13 December 2022, 01:00 AM
Argentina want more of feisty Messi
Lionel Messi wasn’t available at the pre-match press conference for Argentina’s World Cup semifinal against Croatia on Monday. He wasn’t, in fact, expected to be; the PSG talisman hardly ever attends a press conference.
13 December 2022, 01:00 AM
Giroud exhibiting his mettle
As the world heads into the final week of the Qatar 2022 with only four matches left, including an irrelevant one involving the third-place decider, the focus will be on whether Kylian Mbappe can lead the French to a consecutive World Cup title or whether Lionel Messi can end Argentina’s 36-year wait for a third world title.
12 December 2022, 04:00 AM
Atlas Lions get Arab world and beyond to rally behind them
As the World Cup advances towards its climax, there has been a constant exodus of fans from countries which have already been eliminated.
11 December 2022, 18:00 PM
The Messi we never saw before
For large parts of his career, Lionel Messi has painted an image of himself as a calm individual, leaving his boots to do the talking, trying his best to deflect attention. He hardly ever attends press conferences and avoids making controversial remarks. On the pitch, his goal celebrations often remain restrained and his remonstrations with match officials minimal.
11 December 2022, 05:00 AM
The tree of dreams
Close to a hundred years after Uruguay hosted the first FIFA World Cup in 1930, the South American nations have united in their bid to bring the Greatest Show on Earth back to its birthplace to mark the centenary edition.
11 December 2022, 05:00 AM
World Cup gives life to ancient streets
Souq Wasif is probably one of the most happening places in all of Qatar as it juxtaposes the past with the present and draws thousands of tourists every day for its eateries, artefacts and old buildings. It is a set of alleys lined by centuries-old buildings on both sides, with modern skyscrapers at one end and a river near the other.
10 December 2022, 01:00 AM
Desert Fest: With Ronaldo or without him?
Despite leading Portugal to the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time since 2006, Fernando Santos finds himself in a difficult situation with his team up against Morocco tomorrow.
9 December 2022, 18:00 PM
World Cup moulds Qatar into a new form
Qatar has never seen anything like it before and it has been waiting to see it -- the FIFA World Cup -- in flesh for more than a decade. And the tiny oil-rich nation has done its best, despite the criticism, to put on its best face to the world for this global event.
9 December 2022, 03:00 AM