Although a national team from Bangladesh is not competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the country’s manufacturing prowess has reached the tournament's biggest stage. This milestone was achieved when the Cape Verde national team wore jerseys manufactured in Bangladesh during their World Cup debut match against Spain in Atlanta. The jerseys were produced by Garments Manufacturing and Assembling Ltd (GMA), a factory located in the Turag area of Dhaka.
GMA supplied 5,000 player jerseys to the Cape Verde team through the New York-based sportswear company, Capelli Sport. In addition to the player kits, GMA also exported 13,000 fan jerseys for various countries through the same partner. According to GMA manager Showmik Barmon, the order was placed in January of this year, and the company successfully delivered the jerseys to Cape Verde by March. This marks a significant achievement for GMA, which was established in 2019, as it is the first time the firm has supplied player jerseys for a FIFA World Cup.
Producing professional-grade football jerseys requires high standards of quality. The jerseys feature Coolmax fabric, a specialized material designed to reduce sweating for players during intense matches. To meet these specifications, GMA collaborated with another local garment giant, Youngone Corporation, which provided the fabric after importing the necessary high-performance yarn. Each player jersey was sold at a price of $8.
This accomplishment reinforces Bangladesh's position as one of the world’s leading apparel suppliers, second only to China. Bangladesh has built a strong reputation for supplying gear for major international sporting events, including previous football and cricket World Cups. Mohammad Hatem, president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), noted that while jersey exports naturally spike every four years for the World Cup, the country exports sports garments on a daily basis.
Bangladesh has become a preferred destination for global brands because local manufacturers have the capacity to produce high-end, value-added items using their modern facilities. The country’s garments are also increasingly popular among European football fans, particularly younger supporters who frequent stadiums for club and international matches. This success story highlights the growing capability and competitiveness of the Bangladeshi garment industry on the global stage.
