When the 2026 World Cup kicked off in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca on June 12, thousands of kilometres away, sleepless fans in Kerala were watching the late-night match at the edge of their seats.Every four years, the FIFA World Cup, one of the largest sporting events in the world, sweeps countries in a football frenzy. With the final game approaching on July 20, jerseys bearing the names of Neymar, Messi, Ronaldo, and Mbappé became a common sight. Fans expressed their support through late-night live screenings, cut-outs of star players on the streets and even customised lungis and mundus emblazoned with team colours.Also read | Messi, Qatar and a mailbox in Kozhikode: The story of a 500-piece FIFA World Cup stamp collectionSome fans painted their house to match the colours of their favourite teams. An Ernakulam college created a giant portrait of Neymar, Ronaldo and Messi out of scrap. Here is how football fanatics on the Malabar coast are expressing their craze for the game.Photo:
Nirmal Harindran
Football fans watch a live telecast of the Argentina Vs Egypt FIFA World Cup match at Barton Hill in Thiruvananthapuram on July 7, 2026.Photo:
Nirmal Harindran
An Argentina fan atop a traditional fishing boat, gazing toward the Vizhinjam International Sea Port and a massive cutout of the Argentine football icon Lionel Messi, in Thiruvananthapuram on July 12, 2026. The coastal village known for its football fandom erupted in celebration following the defending champions Argentina's victory that secured their spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals. Photo:
