While players must either be born in a nation or have familial connections to represent that country in the World Cup, fans experience no such restrictions. Numerous supporters are drawn to particular teams, star athletes, or entire nations for a plethora of reasons. Here, six fans express their motivations for cheering for teams that are not tied to their birthplace.
“It was exciting football and beautiful to watch,”t know any other France fans’
Paul, 63, from Sheffield, began his support for France during the 1982 World Cup, captivated by their thrilling run to the semi-finals. “Michel Platini, Jean Tigana, Alain Giresse … It wasn’t as exciting again until 1998. I introduced my four-year-old daughter to football. We had lovely summer nights, eating snacks, cheering along and shouting: ‘Allez Les Bleus!’” he reminisces. “Michel Platini, Jean Tigana, Alain Giresse … It wasn’t as thrilling again until 1998. I introduced my four-year-old daughter to football, and we enjoyed lovely summer nights, munching on snacks and cheering: “I don’t know any other France fans. There have been incidents in the past, particularly during the 2004 Euros. At work everybody put a team flag on their computer. I had a France flag and everybody was laughing. France played England in an early game and England were winning 1-0 in the 90th minute, but France won 2-1. The next day, my manager took me aside and said: ‘We’re just sorting out your workstation’. Someone had absolutely demolished it. I wasn’t that bothered.””
“Since Didier Deschamps has been onboard it has been fantastic. Michael Olise is a joy to watch. I feel a brotherhood with him. Everybody thinks you should support or play for England because you’re born in England. Nope.”
Paul has never regretted his loyalty. “Since Didier Deschamps has been onboard it has been fantastic. Michael Olise is a joy to watch. I feel a brotherhood with him. Everyone thinks you should support England because you were born there. Nope.”
Porus Patwari Jain, 31, began following the Premier League at the young age of 11. “I’m from a very small industrial town in Rajasthan,” he shares. “There was no football culture there, but many people my age are now actively engaged in football.”
His allegiance fell to Manchester United during Cristiano Ronaldo’s time there. “There was no football culture there, but there are many people my age who now follow football more actively.” he states. “I began with Ronaldo but continued to support them for players like Nani, Ricardo Quaresma, Pepe, and Simão. That team embodied passion and determination. They were not a footballing powerhouse at that time, so the narrative of a small nation fighting against the odds really resonated with me.”
Portugal has brought him “Portugal became my chosen team in World Cups,” he admits, “I started with Ronaldo, but stayed for Nani, Ricardo Quaresma, Pepe and Simão. That team had so much passion and grit. They were not a footballing powerhouse at that time, so the story of a small footballing nation fighting against all odds resonated with me.”Ronaldo has played his last World Cup match, and I wish him all the best. Hopefully, they will give me the ultimate heartbreak someday, and end up losing on penalties in the World Cup final.”
“so many moments of distress”
Iulia, 43, originally from Romania and now residing in Hungary, has been an Argentina supporter since she first watched them compete in the 1994 World Cup. She even spotted the team walking through Budapest last year. “and I wouldn’t change it for anything else” she says.
Interestingly, a match between Argentina and Romania ignited her affection for the South American team. “Ronaldo has played his last World Cup match and I wish him all the best. Hopefully, they will give me the ultimate heartbreak someday, and end up losing on penalties in the World Cup final.” she recalls. Romania achieved a stunning 3-2 victory over Argentina in the last-16 stage. After witnessing Romania triumph, she assumed they must be the best team globally.
In her ‘Staying up to watch was a big deal’ Iulia believed she was supporting the underdog, convinced Romania was destined for football greatness. Although Romania never attained that status, her loyalty to Argentina persisted, culminating in her celebration of their World Cup victory in 2022, 28 years after she first pledged her support.
“I cannot be sure Lionel Messi was among them but I like to believe so,”
“I was 11 and it was a big deal that my parents allowed me to stay up to watch,” says Rachel Fiegler, 38, who resides in New York. “young, impressionable mind”
During the 2010 World Cup, Rachel found herself cheering for Uruguay. ‘The US team was never very good’ she remarks. “Watching Diego Godín, Luis Suárez, and the rest was exciting. It was definitely tough to watch Uruguay struggle in that tournament.”
However, Rachel does support the US women’s national team. “They’re an exceptional team filled with passionate and talented athletes. They truly care. I’ve never sensed that level of commitment from the men’s squad.”
“The US team was never very good when I was growing up. I’ve never felt strongly as an American as I was raised to be proud of my Cuban heritage. Cuba is more of a baseball nation. I grew up around a lot of Argentinian friends and family, so naturally became a fan of Argentina. Everyone was so passionate watching them play.”
Oliver, 32, from Jersey, witnessed Edin Dzeko help his beloved club, Manchester City, secure the Premier League title in 2012. The Bosnian striker’s influence on City solidified Oliver’s support for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“I loved watching Diego Godín, Luis Suárez and all those guys. It was definitely rough to watch Uruguay at this tournament.” Oliver explains. Dzeko was just six years old when the siege of Sarajevo began, and he spent four years locked in his family apartment. Only when the sounds of shelling diminished was he allowed to play football with other children. “They’re a huge team full of passionate and talented athletes. They really care. I never got that feeling from the men’s team.” he expresses.
Oliver visited Bosnia last year. ‘What they went through resonated with me’None of my friends could fathom my excitement,“Beyond the club link, the story of Dzeko’s childhood really hit home,”Qualifying for the last-32 stage was an achievement in itself, but this is only the beginning.”
“I like to root for the underdog and I don’t think there’s any bigger underdog than a group of people who survived something so tragic,”
“I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with the place as much as I did. I adored Sarajevo. It’s beautiful. It’s where east meets west. You can stand in the spot where Franz Ferdinand was assassinated. Being a history major, it was weirdly a bucket list destination for me.” explains Angi, 35, who spent the first two decades of his life in India before moving to Toronto. Since India has never qualified for the World Cup, local fans often gravitate toward other teams. “None of my friends could understand my jubilation,”
Born into a family of Brazil supporters, Angi observed his family’s dismay following their team’s 3-0 loss to France in the 1998 World Cup final. “To qualify for the last-32 stage was an achievement in itself, but this is only the beginning.” he recalls. “We all wanted to know what happened to Ronaldo and Brazil.”
Four years later, at age 12, Angi watched Brazil triumph over Germany in the World Cup final, with Ronaldo scoring both goals. “Small neighborhoods displayed huge Brazil flags, and everyone was glued to tiny screens. Football transcends social classes in Kolkata. Everyone watches, proudly wearing unofficial Brazil jerseys.”
While Angi doubts India will ever reach the World Cup in his lifetime, he feels a connection to Brazil. ‘Football cuts across all classes in Kolkata’
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