FIFA World Cup | How a young WhatsApp community in India is helping adults rediscover football
Noor Rana, a flight instructor in Delhi, rediscovered her passion for football as an adult through 'Humans of Football' (HOF), a community co-founded by her brother. HOF, established in 2022 via WhatsApp, organizes games for adults in 16 Indian cities, helping them actively pursue the sport post-school.
Why it matters
This article highlights a successful grassroots initiative that promotes physical activity, community building, and the continued engagement in sports for adults, addressing a common challenge of maintaining hobbies after school life.
For as long as she can remember, football has been a constant in Noor Rana’s life. Growing up in Delhi alongside her football-crazy elder brother, she never saw the sport as just another spectacle of hero worship, unlike cricket. Football was a shared passion that brought the siblings together at home and on the school playground, defining much of their childhood.
As an adult, even as she found her professional calling in aviation, Noor missed the adrenaline rush of kicking the ball. Like most youngsters who struggle to actively pursue sports after school life, football took a back seat in her life, too. Yet, her connection with the game never disappeared. “It’s the closest feeling to the thrill I get from flying an aircraft,” says the 26-year-old flight instructor.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in