India and Bangladesh share deep-rooted bonds in history, language, and culture, yet their bilateral ties have been strained in recent years due to border disputes, water-sharing conflicts, and trade disagreements.

Tensions escalated further after former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina fled to India following her ousting in a mass student-public uprising on August 5, 2024. Since then, relations between the two South Asian nations have remained unstable.

Beyond politics, economics, and international relations, these tensions have spilled over into sports—making even a football match between the two nations a highly charged affair.

The excitement and expectations surrounding today’s AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers’ final round first-leg (away) match between Bangladesh and India have intensified, particularly among Bangladeshi fans. The psychological pressure on the players is mounting as anticipation builds both online and on the ground.

Bangladesh will take on India at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, aiming to make a statement on the field.

At a pre-match press conference on Monday, Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuyan was asked about the pressure on his team. He responded with a strong yet emotional analogy,

“When you play with your elder brother, you always want to win. We are the same. That is my answer. We want to win against India.”

He acknowledged the added pressure surrounding this particular match:

“Of course, there is pressure. Every match comes with pressure, but this one has a little more focus because it’s India. And you know what happened last year (in August). We are feeling the pressure, but at the same time, we are calm.”

When asked about the atmosphere and fan influence, Jamal explained how players deal with the energy from the stands,

“As an opponent in India, you always feel the crowd—before and after the match. But when you’re on the pitch, you’re focused on the game. You’re not paying attention to the crowd or what they are chanting."

“Before the match, you feel the atmosphere and the rising expectations. There is a bit of pressure, but once the game starts, the adrenaline is so high that you don’t feel the crowd anymore.”

While sports rivalry between Bangladesh and India is nothing new, the recent political tensions have added another layer of intensity to this fixture.

Adding to the excitement, Bangladesh will feature Hamza Choudhury, the first Bangladesh-origin footballer to play in the English Premier League. His inclusion has been a major talking point, with fans eager to see him in action.

Meanwhile, India has called Sunil Chhetri, the fourth-highest international goalscorer of all time (95 goals in 152 appearances), out of retirement to bolster their squad for this campaign.

Bangladesh’s Spanish head coach, Javier Cabrera, acknowledged the importance of both star players but emphasized that football remains a team sport:
“Hamza definitely makes us better, there’s no doubt. And I think Sunil also makes India better. But whoever wins tomorrow, it will be about the team. There’s a lot of respect for India, and we respect each other. But we really feel that we are ready for tomorrow.”