FIFA World Cup 2026 | Why football’s most passionate fans may be in India
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is generating excitement in India, particularly in Kerala, where football culture thrives. As the tournament approaches, fans are preparing for the event with merchandise and community activities. The World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking a significant milestone in its history.
- ▪The tournament will feature 48 teams for the first time, making it the largest World Cup ever.
- ▪It will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first time three nations host the event together.
- ▪In Kerala, fans are beginning to prepare by stocking up on jerseys, flags, and other merchandise in anticipation of the World Cup.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
In late-90s Kerala, a young girl is jolted awake at night by the sound of the television. She finds her father watching football, a cup of tea in hand to stay awake. Soon, the cups become two as the World Cup turns into a way for her to connect with him. She watches a usually composed man move through a gamut of emotions — from euphoria to dejection. Around that time, she nails the Argentina flag to the mast.Around the same period, a few hundred kilometres north, a young boy grows up playing pseudo shoot-outs with his father, who invokes the names of Diego Maradona, Gabriel Batistuta and co. before every kick. Despite the prevalent Latin American flavour around him, the boy chooses England after Michael Owen’s solo goal in the 1998 World Cup.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Hindu — Top.
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