FIFA World Cup 2026 | Kerala's football frenzy, in pictures

Published 13 July 2026 · sports

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

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.

Football fans watch a live telecast of the Argentina Vs Egypt FIFA World Cup match at Barton Hill in Thiruvananthapuram on July 7, 2026. 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. 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. 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. 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.

A giant portrait set up at Nirmala College in Muvattupuzha as a tribute to football stalwarts Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Junior. 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. 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. 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. 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. A cut-out of Lionel Messi erected by Argentina fans in Kulamavu, Idukki, Kerala, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.