Offside Offenders win NSU World Cup Quiz Competition
Team Offside Offenders of Mirpur Cantonment Public School and College clinched the championship at the NSU World Cup Quiz Competition 2026, outsmarting more than 1,000 students from educational institutions nationwide.
North South University's School of Humanities and Social Sciences organised the competition for students in classes VIII to XII, offering a total prize pool of Tk 1 lakh.
A total of 520 two-member teams from Dhaka, Narsingdi, Barishal, Jashore, Rangpur and Cox's Bazar took part across several rounds.
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Questions spanned football history, Fifa World Cups, legendary players and iconic moments from the sport.
Md Samiul Islam and Abdullah Al Rafsan of Team Offside Offenders received Tk50,000 as champions.
Team Rigged & Ready, with Faiyad Zayed of Bangladesh International School and College and Raheeb Bin Reza of Rajuk Uttara Model College, finished as first runners-up and received Tk30,000.
Aosaf Wasit of BAF Shaheen College and Arman Hossain of Dhaka City College, competing as Team NO BENCH, secured second runner-up and won Tk20,000.
The programme also included a staged debate between Brazilian and Argentinian football supporters, performed by students from North South University.
Founder Life Member and former chairman of the Board of Trustees of North South University Benajir Ahmed attended as chief guest, while Ivorian footballer Sheikh Camara was present as special guest.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury chaired the programme. Professor Md Rizwanul Islam, dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, delivered the opening address.
Welcoming participants, teachers and guardians, Professor Md Rizwanul Islam said the sportsmanship shown by students was the competition's greatest achievement.
"Even after bowing out of the competition, they stood tall, clapping and cheering for their peers. Their passion for learning and enthusiasm for showcasing their football knowledge are truly commendable," he said.
Benajir Ahmed praised the participation of young students and encouraged them to apply this energy and enthusiasm to building a brighter future for Bangladesh.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury said FIFA World Cup celebrations had become deeply rooted in North South University's culture.
"Education should never be confined to the classroom. The vibrant exchange of ideas and knowledge witnessed today is crucial to a well-rounded curriculum," he said.
He added that the university encourages students to pursue diverse intellectual and extracurricular interests.
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences recently introduced two undergraduate programmes in history and sociology.
Following the competition, organisers reaffirmed their commitment to developing more youth-focused initiatives and engaging school and college students.
