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Argentine football legend Claudio Caniggia believes Bangladesh could one day qualify for the FIFA World Cup, saying the country has an opportunity to make greater strides as the tournament expands.
The former Argentina forward shared his optimism on Monday while attending the final of the Dhaka Inter-School Champions League at Fortis Downtown Resort and Grounds in the capital.
Caniggia visited Bangladesh to present the trophy to the winners of the school tournament. The final was interrupted by rain, preventing him from watching the entire match. Navy College beat Bangladesh International Tutorial (BIT) to claim the title.
“Qualifying for the World Cup is always difficult, but I hope Bangladesh can improve and continue moving forward,” Caniggia said. “The World Cup now has 48 teams, and perhaps there will be even more in the future. That could create opportunities for Bangladesh. I believe Bangladesh will play in the World Cup one day.”
The 1990 World Cup star also urged young footballers to focus on discipline, preparation and mental strength.
“Football is not just a game of luck. It requires discipline, proper preparation and mental strength. There are no shortcuts—listen to your coach, believe in yourselves and give your best every day,” he said.
Caniggia said he was impressed by the passion for Argentina among Bangladeshi fans, noting that people in the country have followed Argentina and Brazil since the 1986 World Cup.
“I have seen on television how people in Bangladesh enjoy Argentina’s matches at the World Cup, so I was not surprised to see so many Argentina supporters here,” he said.
“Argentina has fans around the world, but you rarely see the kind of passion and love shown by people in Bangladesh,” he added.
Caniggia is remembered for one of the defining moments of the 1990 World Cup, when he scored against Brazil after receiving a pass from Diego Maradona.
Speaking emotionally about Maradona, Caniggia said, “Diego was my friend. We Argentines miss him a lot. We played together for the national team for many years. I was a little younger than him, so I grew up watching him. Playing alongside him at Boca Juniors was also a wonderful experience.”
Caniggia also left open the possibility of Lionel Messi playing at the 2030 World Cup, although he said he considered it unlikely.
“I think it will be difficult for Messi to play in the 2030 World Cup. I don’t think he will play,” he said, while noting that Messi remains capable of achieving the feat if he chooses to continue.
“He is a genius of football. If he wants to, he can do it. The question is whether he wants to play and whether he still has the desire,” Caniggia added.
