‘Bangladesh could follow Canada’s success’

Once capped for Canada at both senior and youth levels, Shamit Shome now anchors the Bangladesh midfield with quiet authority. Having made his international debut for the red and green in June 2025, the dynamic playmaker has rapidly evolved into an indispensable component of the national team’s tactical spine. Now, with his country of birth preparing to co-host the historic 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup alongside the United States and Mexico, Shamit spoke to The Daily Star’s Samsul Arefin Khan about his World Cup memories, tournament predictions, his journey with Bangladesh, and more. Excerpts follow:

The Daily Star (DS): Canada is co-hosting the FIFA World Cup for the first time in its history. How does it feel to see your country of birth take centre stage for football’s greatest spectacle?

Shamit Shome (SS): Very exciting. I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of Canada’s national team program and see the rise of the country in the football world.

DS: You share a pitch history with many of the names heading to this tournament.

SS: Yes, I’ve played with the majority of the players for Canada at the youth level and some were my teammates previously as well in Montreal. I will definitely be supporting them and Canada and hope they can have real success in this tournament and hopefully make it into the knockout rounds.

DS: How do you foresee this tournament reshaping Canada's football DNA, and what structural cues can Bangladesh take from their developmental trajectory?

SS: I think it will greatly improve the football culture in Canada and, [overall], have a great impact on soccer in North America. I think Bangladesh has the potential to follow Canada’s recent success in football, just need everybody to buy in and commit to the improvement of our national team… and we can achieve great things.

DS: Let’s briefly revisit your personal relationship with the tournament, from our earliest definitive memory of watching a World Cup to standout favourite moment.

SS: My first real memory of watching the World Cup is 2006. The controversy with [Zinedine] Zidane, Germany hosting — that’s where I first started supporting the German team. I really enjoyed the 2014 World Cup in Brazil; the energy and vibe of the matches was unreal, and there were some special moments that tournament, from James Rodriguez's volley to Neymar’s injury and to Germany beating Brazil by a large margin.

DS: Which team will you be backing over the next month?

SS: As a neutral supporter, I’ll be rooting for Brazil and Portugal.

DS: Let’s lock in your final four pick.

SS: Brazil, Portugal, England, and Senegal. I think Brazil will win.

DS: Which specific players are you most eager to watch?

SS: Vitinha of Portugal and England’s Declan Rice — both very in-form midfielders, so excited to see how they perform. Also [Ousmane] Dembele for France, as he has been in very strong form. [Among emerging stars] Nico Paz for Argentina should be fun to watch as well.

DS: Do you plan on seeing any of the action live from the stands?

SS: Still to be determined. I haven’t decided whether to watch a match in person or enjoy watching it from home. We’ll see!

DS: It has been nearly a year since you made your international debut for the red and green, accumulating six caps so far. How would you reflect on your transition?

SS: It’s been an amazing journey so far… Everybody has been so welcoming and supportive that it gives me the confidence to perform at my best and give my all. I think we deserved more than we got with how we played the last year, but that’s the reality of football and hopefully we can continue to improve and start having real success.

DS: How do you see the appointment of Thomas Dooley as the new Bangladesh head coach?

SS: I think he is a great coach selected by the federation… He has great experiences both as a player and a manager, so looking forward to working with him and learning from him.

DS: Having experienced high-stakes contests in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, how would you contrast Asian international football with what you experienced in North America?

SS: The environment and structure are different. Club football in North America is very strong and still underrated… I found international football very different from club football in North America, mostly based on how open and transitional international football gets compared to club. The football craze in Asia and the pride every country has for their team you can really feel, and I really enjoy playing in these high-pressure, energetic atmospheres.

DS: When the World Cup arrives, Bangladesh undergoes an incredible transformation, with fans flying flags for their favourite adopted nations. What is your take on the passion of the local fandom?

SS: Bangladeshi fans are amazing. Their passion and pride for the country and teams they support is immense. Their support motivates us players to push ourselves to continuously improve for the good of Bangladesh football.

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Photo: Firoz Ahmed

DS: Qualifying for a World Cup remains the ultimate, distant dream for millions here. From an insider's perspective, what does a realistic, competitive roadmap look like?

SS: I think it is very possible and hope it will happen in the near future. The country and federation as a whole are moving in the right direction by improving professionalism and raising standards both on and off the field. We should continue to invest into the local league to improve the competition of the national team program and quality of the matches. Investing in the grassroots program is very important as well to ensure Bangladesh football is strong in the generations to come.