And so, it begins

Yesterday marked the beginning of the quadrennial global circus that is the men's football World Cup. Unfortunately, the narrative around this edition of the tournament, especially in the Western media, seems to be centred more around non-footballing negativity than anything that would take place on the football pitch.

In spite of FIFA president Gianni Infantino's full-throated -- and perhaps slightly hysterical -- defence of the hosts, there remains a deep sense of disquiet about Qatar's legitimacy as World Cup hosts and, by extrapolation, FIFA's credibility as the guardians of global football.

Although I suspect that much of this discomfort will subside once the first whistle blows, the issues that have surfaced should not be glossed over. After all, the World Cup does not need to be tarnished in this way since it is an occasion for the world to unite and celebrate, and do so without caveats.   

Speaking of celebration, the one place where verve has not dimmed is our own homeland. The excitement in Bangladesh is at a fever pitch, and the Brazil and Argentina fans, in particular, have come out on their strongest foot.

I have often wondered why Bangladeshis get so passionate about the World Cup to the point that it becomes a global story. I reckon it is because the tournament, and in particular the allegiance towards Brazil and Argentina, is one of the few cultural experiences that we strongly shared with our previous generations. We share it with our peers, and will do so with our progeny. So, when we go crazy about the Selecao and the Albiceleste, we are not just celebrating the teams but the memories we created with our parents, and the potential ones with our children. 

My father was my World Cup fever's initiator and, unfortunately, this is the first edition I will be watching without him. I offer my love and prayers to all the World Cup partners that we have lost, and I wish everyone gets to experience the unique thrill, which the showpiece tournament inevitably offers, with their beloved ones.