Football fans around the world have come together to watch the 2026 World Cup in a wide variety of venues, including city squares, stadium plazas, cafes, fan zones, neighborhood living rooms, and rooftop spaces, expressing unity and celebration [1]. Many fans have adjusted their schedules, staying up late or waking early to catch matches across different time zones [1].
In Gaza, fans follow the World Cup amid difficult conditions such as displacement to schools and tents, frequent power outages, poor internet connectivity, and ongoing threats of attacks. Despite these challenges, their dedication to the tournament remains strong [2].
In the United States, the World Cup weekend drew large, jubilant crowds in cities like Boston and Dallas. Fans representing various countries joined the celebrations, reflected by high TV ratings and a festive atmosphere across venues [3]. Japanese supporters attending matches in Dallas stood out by cleaning up the stadium after a 2-2 draw, bringing their own trash bags to maintain the venue's cleanliness [3].
Since the tournament’s early matches from June 14 to June 16, fans worldwide have organized community viewing events and public celebrations to enjoy the competition together [1, 3]. The enthusiasm continues to grow as the World Cup advances.
