A sold-out final and a bigger dream: Inside Nutmeg FC’s Football Community

For most people hearing the name for the first time, "FC" in Nutmeg FC would naturally suggest "Football Club." But the founders behind the platform insist it means something far more important — Football Community.

And if their first public event is any indication, they may already be onto something.

On the night of the UEFA Champions League final, what began as a modest idea among football-loving friends turned into a packed gathering of passionate fans in Dhaka. Hosted at Smash-n-Stack Burgers in Gulshan 2, Nutmeg FC's inaugural watch party drew a sold-out crowd that far exceeded expectations.

The founders initially hoped around 30 people would show up.

Instead, 57 fans packed the venue, registrations had to be closed early, and dozens more were left disappointed.

"We even had people calling us during half-time asking if they could still come," said co-founder Rafi Chowdhury. "Some were willing to stand and watch if needed, but we simply ran out of space."

According to the organisers, at least another 25 interested attendees had to be turned away. Even foreign football fans living in Dhaka tried to join the event after hearing about it online.

For a country where cricket overwhelmingly dominates the sporting conversation, the response highlighted something many football fans in Bangladesh have quietly known for years — the appetite for football culture here runs deep.

From childhood fandom to community-building

For Rafi Chowdhury, football has been a lifelong obsession that started during the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

"I first started following football when I barely understood it," he recalled. "My father's love for Brazil was the only thing I understood back then."

Though France won him over during that tournament, it was in his teenage years that football truly became a major part of his life, particularly through his admiration for Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.

"In the late 2010s, the idea of doing something connected to football first came to mind," he said. "Only recently did I finally find the opportunity to execute that idea, which is how Nutmeg FC began taking shape."

Rafi believes Bangladesh's football culture remains underdeveloped despite the enormous emotional investment fans show during international tournaments.

"During the World Cup, football creates an unmatched level of excitement and unity here, even though the teams people support is from thousands of miles away," he said. "I saw how clubs and communities abroad build football culture, and I believe Bangladesh can create something similar."

His co-founder, Taushif Hayder, arrived at football from a very different direction.

Having spent most of his childhood and early adulthood in the United States, football was never the dominant sport in his life.

"My interest in football is actually very recent," he said. "Other sports are prioritised more heavily in America, so understanding football fandom really happened after I moved back to Bangladesh."

What struck him most was not simply the sport itself, but the emotion surrounding it.

"Football means community, joy, euphoria and heartbreak all rolled into one," Taushif said. "But at the end of it all, football always ensures a good time. That's the energy we want to bring with Nutmeg FC."

Beyond a one-night event

The Champions League final screening was only the beginning.

Nutmeg FC now plans to organise regular watch parties during the upcoming FIFA World Cup, focusing on major teams such as Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, England and Germany. The founders are already in discussions with multiple restaurants to host simultaneous screenings across Dhaka for high-profile matches.

During the group stages, they plan to select marquee fixtures, while the knockout rounds could see a far larger number of organised screenings. Their long-term ambition is to host watch parties for every semi-final and final match during the tournament.

With expectations high, an impending World Cup, and a simmering demand for watch parties, Nutmeg FC has already launched a pre-registration form on their social media page. For those who want to ensure they get a chance to book seats early for upcoming watch parties, they can sign up using this link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ChHSPFHZH/

And their plans do not stop once the World Cup ends.

The platform also intends to continue year-round screenings for major fixtures from competitions including the English Premier League, La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.

At present, however, the operation is largely passion-driven.

The founders say the costs are being managed through personal investment, ticket sales and football jersey sales. Tickets for the watch parties include both entry to the screening and a set meal provided by the partner restaurant.

"With enough traction, we believe brands will eventually come on board," Taushif said. "But right now, this is being built because we genuinely love football."

Jerseys made in Bangladesh

Alongside the watch parties, Nutmeg FC has also started selling export-quality football jerseys produced locally in Bangladesh.

The founders say they are heavily involved in the design and production process to ensure the jerseys closely resemble the originals worn by national teams.

"We cannot compromise on quality," Rafi said. "Our long-term vision goes beyond Bangladesh."

The initiative also aims to support local garment producers while tapping into the growing demand for football merchandise among Bangladeshi fans.

Their next batch of World Cup jerseys is scheduled to launch on 6 June, with plans to eventually produce club jerseys as European teams unveil their new kits for the upcoming season.

Shining a light on local football

But perhaps the most ambitious part of Nutmeg FC's vision lies beyond watch parties and merchandise.

The founders say they want to document Bangladesh's grassroots football culture — from local tournaments in rural villages to neighbourhood screenings that bring entire communities together.

Across Bangladesh, football remains deeply woven into local culture despite the limited institutional support surrounding the sport. In many districts and villages, local matches routinely attract large crowds, transforming open fields into festive gathering spaces.

Nutmeg FC hopes to tell those stories through videos, news content and conversations with experts about the future of football in Bangladesh.

The platform also wants to work collaboratively with existing fan groups and supporter communities, regardless of which clubs or national teams they support.

"Our idea of football culture is inclusivity," said Taushif. "At the end of the day, the shared passion matters more than the badge."

For now, Nutmeg FC may still be in its early days.

But after a sold-out debut event fuelled almost entirely by word of mouth and football fandom, the platform has already shown that Bangladesh's football community may be waiting for exactly this kind of space.

With the FIFA World Cup on the horizon and plans rapidly expanding, Nutmeg FC's founders believe their sold-out debut is only the beginning. Fans can follow the platform's upcoming watch parties, content, and community initiatives on Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/nutmegfc.bd/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/_nutmeg.fc_/).