World Cup special ‘Football HottoGoal’ delves into football betting and crime

Every four years, the FIFA World Cup ignites football fever across the globe, and Bangladesh is no exception. Fans of Argentina and Brazil passionately rally behind their favourite teams, often fuelling friendly rivalries that have inspired numerous television dramas over the years. Most of these productions, however, have centred on comedy and the familiar banter between supporters of the two footballing giants.

Breaking away from that formula, director Dipu Hazra has taken a different approach with his latest special drama, “Football HottoGoal”, which premiered yesterday on the OTT platform Bongo. Rather than focusing on humour, the drama explores the darker side of football, delving into betting and the underworld that can emerge around the sport.

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The story follows Ayan Chowdhury, played by Shamol Mawla, an unemployed graduate with an extraordinary talent for predicting football match results. Realising the potential of his unusual ability, Ayan launches a Facebook page called “Octopus Bhai”, where he shares his predictions. As his forecasts repeatedly prove accurate, people begin placing large bets based on his advice.

The situation takes a dramatic turn when Ayan suddenly goes missing, setting off a chain of mysterious events.

Starring opposite Shamol Mawla is Nishat Priom, who portrays a young sports journalist. While investigating the “Octopus Bhai” page for a feature story, she befriends Ayan after her report brings him widespread attention. When he disappears, she takes the lead in uncovering the mystery behind his disappearance.

Speaking about the project, Dipu Hazra said that World Cup-themed dramas are often dominated by comedy, but football also gives rise to social issues beyond the excitement surrounding Argentina and Brazil.

“Betting and other criminal activities have become closely associated with football in many instances. We wanted to move beyond the familiar narrative and present a different kind of story. The cast has worked immensely hard to bring this story to life,” he said.

The drama also features Dolly Zahur, Azam Khan, Mahmudul Islam Mithu and Zainal Jack in key roles.