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If you refer to the ‘World Cup’, most people in the world will assume it is the FIFA World Cup. Even a country not excelling in football will have the some of the craziest fans. In many countries football has ingrained itself into national culture. So every four years the world ceases to revel in the most auspicious sporting event in the world: FIFA World Cup.
32 teams battle it out for the trophy and the crown to be the world champions after playing endless qualifying matches. This competition brings out both the best and the worst emotions in the players at the same time put immense pressure on referees. It provides opportunity to young players to hog the limelight at the same time providing redemption to players who had made any errors in the past World Cups. At the same time the World Cup brings out the craziest, weirdest and emotional side of any football fan.
The football fans come in all shape, sizes, religion, region, ethnicity and genders. This mega sporting event creates rifts among best of friends, creates differences among families and brings enemies closer. Here is a list of how the football fans behave and what it means for them in different regions of the world:
South America
South America consist of two football powerhouses - Brazil and Argentina. Their rivalry is gruesome and at times heavily spoken in the countries. Other nations in this continent have been featuring in the World Cup quiet often but not regularly. Brazil has the bragging rights for the most titles - 5, whereas Argentina and Uruguay have both won it a couple of times.
Many say that football is what the south Americans need only after Oxygen. The Brazilians claim the title of ‘Home of Football’ belongs to them as they have won the record number of times. After Brazil’s loss against the Germans and advancement of Argentina to the final, the fans have been chanting “In your house, In your face” (referring to the Brazilians).
Football and samba, two passions which dominates the Brazilian soul. A man died of heart-attack during the first shoot out (Brazil vs Chile) as it became quite intense. Other videos show a quiet neighbourhood during the inaugural match of the World Cup when Brazil scored an equalizer that the whole colony erupted into a state of shouts, scream and hysteria for more than 5 minutes.
The crowd at the public screening and the government offering half day work during the countries matches among other things prove that football is what this huge South American country breaths. Football brings out the country together, so when Neymar was injured and Brazil was thrashed by the mighty Germans, the sheer depth of hurt and sorrow felt by the Brazilians show how much football means to them. Sometimes when heavens weep and tears flow that the size of a country’s love for a sport is revealed.
On the other hand, Argentina, the biggest rival of Brazil boast of most number of players registered by FIFA. The superclasico(superderby) is most important contest between Argentina’s most popular clubs - Boca Juniors and River Plate. The Observer of the English media puts this among their list of top 50 sporting events you must do before you die.
When the Argentina national team plays, the streets look deserted and when they won the cup a couple of time(1978 and 1986) streets were flooded with people celebrating the victory making it hard for anyone not to celebrate. The Argentinian football fans are called - Hinchas. They tend to create an emotional ambience singing and cheering their game. However the Hinchas are not allowed to participate to travel to see their game away from home after they were banned on 2013.
Asia
Asians have a taste for various sports around the world. However none of the teams representing Asia have ever won the world cup or reached the finals. The Japanese and South Koreans compromise as a strong football nation and often facing stiff competition from Middle Eastern countries.
The sub-continent regions comprising of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have mainly been flourishing in cricket. Many people say that cricket is a religion in India which brings the country in an emotional state with result of each match. However, football is not followed on a regular basis(club football) but the fans come alive every four years to watch and celebrate “Joga Bonito”.
Every supporter chooses his/her own team among the 32 or some choose to remain neutral and simply enjoy ‘the beautiful game’. The matches usually are broadcasted at an odd time-late at nights. However, people remain awake till late at night to enjoy the World Cup. As their team loses, one can hear sound of joys from neighbouring house of the celebration of the win by the opposition. When the World Cup arrives, the youth of the country starts playing football as recreation and indulge in heavy discussion of various aspects of World Cup. Disappointingly when the World Cup is over, they retreat back to their religion – cricket only to return back after four years.
The eastern countries are not a huge fan of football, but they watch football from time to time and even have some good domestic league. The Japanese and the Chinese domestic league have been attracting players from around the world.
The Middle Eastern countries compromising of majority of the Arab countries are only the sole sports that are given any importance. During the matches the fans (male) thrive the cafes with their friends to watch matches. The women join the World Cup fever by displaying their loyalties with abayas decorated in national team colors. Football is an important driver of social and political change in the Middle East. After a win either for a national team or a club, the supporters thrive the streets in their car waving the flag.
Europe
Europe is gripped by football fever every year between September and May for support of their favourite clubs. They have hugely competitive domestic league and competitions. However they also turn to support their national team every two years at Euro Cup and World Cup. European teams have won the world cup for a combined tally of 11 times (Germany-4, France-1, Spain-1 and Italy-4).
Football is something that happens round the year for the Europeans: bars show matches, huge arenas host games, kids play football in street and overweight adults indulge in betting. Attending a football match is one the greatest way of experiencing a city’s culture as it brings out people from all walks of life.
Most of them are well aware of the facts surrounding the game and consider oneself the ultimate critic of the sport. They are critical of their national teams as they have been providing some of the world greatest players, so whenever the national team arrives at an international event expectations grow high. Club matches is a passionate affair which often boils into negative chants, hurling abuses and up to some extent turn violent.
The fans use flares, vocal support in large groups and display of banners to encourage their team on pitch. The Europeans hang around the stadium after their team has won to celebrate the victory. The rivalries among fans can become so hated that the supporters are usually seated in opposite sides of the stadium.
Africa
No African country has won a World Cup so far. Yet they go into the competition with high hopes and often fails. Many of the players ply their trade in top European divisions. Football in Africa is passionately followed from Morocco down to South Africa. Whenever there is any important football match (club or national), the country comes to halt. Supporters many time turn to superstitious witchcrafts to enhance the chances of winning. It is most sought out recreation sport for young boys around Africa. However due to corruption and turmoil in the some African countries, football has failed to flourish at a global level.
North America
This continent consist of the three big countries - USA, Canada and Mexico. Mexico has been playing and trying to cement their place as notable force in international footballing arena for a long time. USA have entered in the footballing field quite late with the establishment of MLS. So the main rivalry of Mexico was with the Latin American teams for supremacy, however they have not been quite successful. USA have now entered the fray and provide stiff competition to Mexicans.
The Mexicans fans are perhaps one of craziest in the world. They can also be one of the cruellest fans when playing against them. They will taunt and boo you to the extent that even the calmest player on pitch can become nervous.
However their counterpart - the Americans are not a huge fan of football, wait they are a huge fan of football but they are not a fan of soccer. Confused? Well the USA is the only country in the world that does not call football - football, rather they call it soccer. They have not been in the history of football for long, but the match against Germany have seen that the country stopped to watch and support their national team. However the Americans have been huge supporters of the Mexican National Team before the introduction of MLS and emergence of the national team of USA on a global level.
There is no competition among the fans who is the best. Every fan has their own chants, way of celebration, prayer, different approach to encourage their team, but their main motive is the same- see their team win. For the neutrals they just want to watch a competitive game of football and not marred by some controversy.
Every fan is a tribute to the ‘Jogo Bonito’(The Beautiful Game). And every living person whether he/she plays the sport or not, whether it is followed by the majority in their country has the right to be the best of fans. There have been some incident in the past where fans have turned violent or turned to some unruly and unlawful behaviour, but it only shows how emotional this game can get for a few. Indeed it is watched and is vividly emotional for millions of people around the world. For some it is hope, for some despair, but in the end it brings satisfaction after watching a good game of football.
