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 collection
Some 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:
PTI
Young boys play football in a street decorated with Brazilian flags and a large poster of footballer Neymar Jr ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, June 10, 2026.
Photo:
Special Arrangement
Argentina fans at Barton Hill celebrate following the team’s victory against Switzerland in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals, in Thiruvananthapuram on July 12, 2026.
Photo:
PTI
An Air Arabia aircraft prepares to land at Trivandrum International Airport as a cut-out of Portugal footballer Cristiano Ronaldo stands nearby amid the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026, in Thiruvananthapuram, June 17, 2026.
Photo:
Special Arrangement
A giant portrait set up at Nirmala College in Muvattupuzha as a tribute to football stalwarts Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Junior.
Photo:
Nirmal Harindran
Children of Government Model HSLPS and Nursery School, dressed in jerseys of their favourite football players, play in a friendly football match organised by teachers amid the ongoing FIFA World Cup frenzy, in Thiruvananthapuram on June 30, 2026.
Photo:
Reuters
Fans of the Brazilian soccer team gather during an event ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, at Kurumassery village in Kerala, India, June 11, 2026.
Photo:
Thulasi Kakkat
A 45 feet tall cut-out of Neymar erected by Brazil fans in Kulamavu, Idukki, Kerala, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 10, 2026.
Photo:
Thulasi Kakkat
Salu Paul, a fan of the Brazilian football team, has painted hsi house in the colours of the country’s flag since the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Photo:
Thulasi Kakkat
A cut-out of Lionel Messi erected by Argentina fans in Kulamavu, Idukki, Kerala, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Photo:
Lakshmi Theertha
Sarin Kumar with his collection of more than 500 FIFA World Cup stamps documenting some of football’s greatest moments.
Photo:
Special Arrangement
Mannequins sporting football-inspired dhotis at Wadakkanchery, Kerala
Photo:
PTI
A flag featuring International footballers Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr along with flags of Portugal and Argentina hang across at SM street amid the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026, in Kozhikode, Kerala, June 19, 2026.
Photo:
Thulasi Kakkat
Students of St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam, turned up the heat on Thursday, celebrating the FIFA World Cup with a thrilling penalty shootout, high-energy dance acts and a fashion show on July 9, 2026.
Photo:
Thulasi Kakkat
Students of St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam, turned up the heat on Thursday, celebrating the FIFA World Cup with a thrilling penalty shootout, high-energy dance acts and a fashion show on July 9, 2026.
Photo:
PTI
Students of Jairani SABS Public School form a human chain in the shape of the FIFA World Cup amid the ongoing international football tournament, at Balussery, in Kozhikode district, Kerala, June 25, 2026.
Photo:
K. K. Mustafah
Students of BES Bharathi Theertha Vidyalayam, Kallekkad, taking part in a promotional rally organized in connection with the FIFA World Cup Football Tournament at Palakkad on 18th June 2026.
Published – July 13, 2026 01:17 pm IST
