Thousands of people in the South Asian country celebrated Argentina's victory over Poland
While Argentina secured their place in the round of 16 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup with their 2-0 victory over Poland, thousands of fans were celebrating in Bangladesh.
From children to elderly people, many dressed in blue and white or waving Argentine flags, the crowd stood throughout most of the match as they watched it on giant screens in the main square of the University of Dhaka, the capital.
The Albiceleste - and their star Lionel Messi - have a significant fan base in this South Asian country, where cricket is king although football is gaining weight.
A volunteer told AFP that about 12,000 people could comfortably watch the matches through three huge LED screens installed on the campus.
Tawsif Imran, a student, said he had come with his friends to watch his favorite football player, Messi, play in what is presumably his last World Cup.
"When I was a child, my father told me that Argentina is a great team. But as I grew up and started understanding football, I became a big fan of Messi," he explained to AFP during halftime.
"I hope we win, (Messi) deserves it," he added.
Shortly before, the Paris Saint-Germain player had missed a penalty, leaving the audience speechless.
But when Alexis Mac Allister scored his first goal, the campus exploded with the sound of vuvuzelas and fireworks.
Another Argentina supporter, Shamsul Arefin, said it was his third day watching World Cup matches on giant screens.
"God willing, we will reach the final and win," he said.
The noise was deafening when Julián Álvarez scored the second goal in the 67th minute, and the sound of motorcycles mingled with the celebrations.
The place was a scene of pure joy when the referee's final whistle confirmed that Argentina had qualified for the round of 16. AFP