Football enthusiasts in Bangladesh faced significant challenges while trying to stream the inaugural matches of the 2026 Fifa World Cup on June 12, as technical issues plagued various online platforms. The disruptions led to concerns about the readiness of major over-the-top services to handle the surge in viewership.
Users took to social media to express frustration over delayed one-time passwords, payment glitches, buffering, and interruptions during live game broadcasts. A substantial number of complaints centered around Toffee, the platform operated by Banglalink responsible for streaming World Cup matches in Bangladesh. Subscribers encountered delays in activating their subscriptions and experienced frequent disruptions while watching matches.
An individual named Anamul Haque, dissatisfied with the service, requested a refund after facing difficulties watching a match. Some users humorously speculated that subscriptions purchased for this tournament might only become effective by the next World Cup.
Gazi Towhid Ahmed, the head of corporate communications at Banglalink, attributed the delays to a sudden surge in one-time password requests following disruptions in the live feed. He assured that the necessary actions were promptly taken to restore normalcy in services.
Responding to complaints about buffering, Towhid mentioned that Banglalink was collaborating with rights holders and technical partners to enhance service quality. The company expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to customers and pledged to address the issues swiftly.
In a similar vein, users of Bioscope+, the streaming service by Grameenphone, also encountered technical difficulties during the tournament’s initial matches. Some subscribers faced login issues and were greeted with the app’s loading animation instead.
Sharfuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Grameenphone’s head of communications, acknowledged the unexpected technical glitch that disrupted some customers’ viewing experience. The teams worked diligently to rectify the problem and expressed gratitude for customers’ patience.
The disruptions prompted criticism from customers, questioning whether the streaming platforms had made sufficient investments in infrastructure to accommodate the high volume of viewers during a major sporting event. With the FIFA World Cup anticipated to attract a massive global audience in the coming weeks, the focus now shifts to whether these providers can prevent future issues and ensure seamless coverage as demand escalates.
