Photos: When the World Cup came to town
News
As the World Cup moves toward its conclusion this weekend, these photographs from NPR station photographers look beyond the stadium pitches to the places where fans gathered to take in the games. At watch parties just outside the stadiums’ gates, on street corners and in public parks and squares, these photos capture the rituals, anticipation, joy, disappointment and celebration that unfolded as the World Cup became, for a brief period, a part of local life.
Accompanied by firsthand reflections from the photographers, these images offer a glimpse of how local communities gathered to share in the Cup, as well as the observations that stayed with the photographers who documented it.
In the first days of the Cup, I photographed a watch party that overtook downtown Chula Vista, Calif., with an estimated 25,000 people, so watching the game at the Gaylord resort felt comparatively subdued. After spending time photographing while bobbing in the water alongside swimmers merrily discussing the game, I left the pool to gather my things. Just before exiting, I looked back and was struck by the surreal juxtaposition in front of me: an artificial beach, a giant screen, two teams from
Details
More than 1,000 fans gathered outside Amsterdam Tavern in south St. Louis on Friday, June 12, to watch the U.S. Men’s National Team open its World Cup run against Paraguay. Co-owner Jeff Lyell closed a block of Morgan Ford Road and rolled in a massive screen, creating one of the city’s largest and most authentic watch parties. The scale and energy of St. Louis’ soccer community are notable in a city where five local players helped the U.S. stun England in the 1950 World Cup. This moment shows ho
American Outlaws St. Louis Chapter President Kevin Marshall takes a selfie alongside club members and local residents Connor McDonald and Cole Kline as they held their TV up for hundreds of fans outside Amsterdam Tavern on Friday, June 12. Ten minutes into the U.S.-Paraguay match, the tavern lost power and its massive outdoor screen went dark. As fans crowded around phones, McDonald and Kline hoisted the television so the watch party could continue — a small act of levity and camaraderie amid ch
I photographed a Mexico vs. South Africa watch party in San Francisco, where Mexico fans greatly outnumbered their South African counterparts. It was a hot day, and despite a lack of shade, I saw a group of people get creative by finding it under picnic tables and making their own additional shelter using blankets. Instead of going home to watch the game in a more comfortable space, they stayed out to support Mexico amongst the shared community. The ingenuity and commitment was incredibly endear
Analysis
I covered a number of watch parties, but this one along Seattle’s waterfront stood out from the rest because it was about much more than soccer — it was also about community, pride and belonging. Thousands of fans rooting for Mexico, many traveling long distances, gathered to celebrate and experience their collective joy. Fans were launched into the air, beer shimmered in the sunlight as it was sprayed onto fellow fans, and dozens sang, danced and waved Mexican flags. Fans held up signs reading
At halftime of the opening match between Mexico and South Africa, I noticed Nehemiah, 6, walking around with his parents. His face paint matching his mom’s caught my eye, so I photographed them from a distance, then went over to ask their names. Nehemiah seemed happy, and when I asked how he was feeling about the game, he lit up. That’s how I was able to capture this moment. He’s been a Mexico fan for a while, and this was his first World Cup watch party. Covering the watch party really showed t
A park in downtown Dallas was painted blue as fans gathered to celebrate Japan’s team. Blue paper lanterns swayed in the wind, and people wore traditional Japanese garments to complete the atmosphere. This group of fans, standing in line for a raffle, flew in from Japan to cheer for their team and experience Texas barbecue. What impressed me was that without stanchions to direct the crowd, fans wove back and forth across the field, creating an orderly line without shoving or cutting. Japanese fa
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