Philadelphia-raised twin brothers Ronan Sullivan and Declan Sullivan say they dream of helping Bangladesh reach the World Cup after playing key roles in the country’s SAFF Under-20 Championship triumph in Nepal. Bangladesh defeated longtime rival India in the final, with Ronan sealing the title in the tiebreaker through a Panenka-style final penalty. The brothers discussed their Bangladesh journey, cultural adjustment and ambitions in an interview published by The Guardian.

The twins obtained Bangladeshi passports through their mother but had to compete in a trial camp involving more than 30 players to earn places in the squad. Ronan said being expatriates initially made it difficult to receive the ball because they did not understand the language and other players may not have fully accepted their presence. He said the atmosphere became easier after they demonstrated their ability in training.

Declan said he knew Ronan would attempt a Panenka if given the chance to score the decisive penalty. Although they had opportunities to represent the United States or Germany, the brothers chose Bangladesh, their maternal grandfather’s country. They said the warm reception in Dhaka after the title deeply moved them and view the achievement as an opening step in a revival of Bangladeshi football.