Photos: When the World Cup came to town
This photo essay captures the communal experience of fans watching the World Cup in various local settings outside of stadiums. It highlights the emotional rituals and social connections formed by supporters in cities like San Diego and St. Louis.
Why it matters
It illustrates the power of global sporting events to foster local community identity and shared human experiences.
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.
The content is a human-interest feature focused on cultural observation without political or ideological framing.
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