Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the online jersey market in Bangladesh has seen a significant surge in sales. Social media platforms, e-commerce sites, and WhatsApp groups are bustling with jersey transactions. According to sellers, Argentina's jersey is the most sought-after, followed by Brazil's. Other popular jerseys include those from Portugal, France, Germany, Spain, and England.
Azharul Islam, owner of Jersey Shop BD, stated that the demand for jerseys has increased severalfold due to the upcoming World Cup. He sells over 300-350 jerseys daily. Mahfuj Chowdhury, owner of Prachury, noted that 70-80% of his sales are Argentina jerseys, with Brazil and Portugal following. Various platforms like Daraz, Jersey, Jersey Club BD, Jersey Freak BD, and Fabrilife report high demand for Argentina, Brazil, Spain, France, and Portugal jerseys.
The global market for World Cup jerseys is estimated to be around 839 crore USD, while the Bangladesh market, though smaller, is significant. Local sellers estimate that 50 to 80 lakh jerseys are sold during each World Cup, with a market size of 400 to 700 crore BDT. The National Board of Revenue reports that around 23.65 lakh football and FIFA logo-branded jerseys, T-shirts, and hoodies were exported from Bangladesh, valued at approximately 37 lakh USD or 45 crore BDT.
Jerseys in the market are mainly of three types: domestic factory-made jerseys priced between 350 to 500 BDT, mid-range 'Thai Premium' jerseys priced between 850 to 1200 BDT, and player edition or authentic jerseys priced between 1500 to 2500 BDT. Iqbal Hossain, a jersey businessman for 35 years, noted that the price of each jersey has increased by 100 to 200 BDT compared to the previous World Cup due to rising costs of fabric, labor, and accessories.
Ahmed Rifat, Business Development Manager at Fabrilife, mentioned that they are selling both imported and their own brand jerseys, with Argentina jerseys being the most popular. Fabrilife jerseys are sold at 690 BDT, while imported jerseys are sold at 1290 BDT. Jersey Club BD sells 'Thai Premium' jerseys at 1100 BDT, made from 100% recyclable polyester with sweat-resistant technology.
Most jerseys in the market are imitation products and not official licensed jerseys from Adidas or Nike. The fabric and thread for most jerseys are imported from China, while production and sewing are done domestically, mainly in Narayanganj. Small factories alongside the export-oriented garment industry become busy during the World Cup season. A significant portion of 'Thai Premium' jerseys are made in Thailand or Vietnam and imported through China.
Iqbal Hossain noted that they reduced production this year, expecting lower consumer spending due to economic downturns. However, sales have been good, leading to a 100 to 120 BDT increase in wholesale prices per jersey. Azharul Islam mentioned that sales started early this year as the official team jerseys' designs were released six months before the tournament.
Online orders are coming from Dhaka and all divisional cities. Over a hundred small Facebook pages are active in this business, and large marketplaces like Daraz have dedicated sections for World Cup jerseys. Online jerseys usually reach Dhaka within 24 to 48 hours and district cities within three to five days. However, some institutions are failing to deliver on time due to high demand, and some online businesses are not responding to customer calls.
Common complaints include incorrect sizes, color discrepancies, and lower quality than advertised. There are also instances where customers did not receive their ordered jerseys. For example, Arman Hossain from Lakshmipur paid 600 BDT in advance for a jersey but did not receive it, and the page disappeared.
