A group of college students huddles around a phone screen in a campus corridor. A café table turns into a heated debate over which team has the strongest midfield. Office colleagues keep checking updates between meetings. Late at night, living rooms stay lit long after midnight as families and friends gather to watch the biggest football tournament on earth.
That is what the FIFA World Cup looks like in Kashmir.
Football has always enjoyed a special place in the valley’s sporting culture. Long before social media and streaming platforms changed the way people followed sports, football grounds attracted huge crowds. Matches at SP College, Polo Ground, Eidgah and many local fields drew supporters who followed the game with passion and pride. Local football stars enjoyed a following that rivaled any celebrity.
Those memories still live on. The faces may have changed and the stadiums may now be thousands of miles away, but the excitement remains much the same.
As the World Cup unfolds in the United States, football once again becomes a major talking point across Kashmir. Young fans track results, study team lineups, discuss tactics and follow the latest developments from their favourite players. Older supporters revisit stories from earlier tournaments, recalling unforgettable goals, famous upsets and legendary names that defined entire eras of football.
The tournament brings a unique energy to public life. Cafés fill with supporters backing different nations, and campuses buzz with predictions about who will lift the trophy. Friendly arguments break out over star players and coaching decisions. WhatsApp groups remain active deep into the night as supporters react to dramatic goals and unexpected results.
Support for national teams often runs deep. Some cheer for Brazil because of its rich football tradition, others back Argentina, France, Germany, Spain or Portugal because of a favourite player or a style of play they admire.
Match days bring excitement, anticipation and plenty of banter among friends.
Football also sparks something larger than sporting interest in the valley. Young players who spend their evenings on local grounds closely watch how elite footballers move, pass and think during a game. The World Cup becomes both entertainment and inspiration. Discussions from television screens often continue on neighbourhood pitches the following day.
Perhaps that is why the tournament feels different from most global events. It draws people into a shared experience. People who support different teams, belong to different age groups and come from different walks of life find common ground in the game.
Thousands of miles separate Kashmir from the World Cup venues, but the tournament feels remarkably close. Through late-night screenings, animated debates, score updates and passionate support, football once again brings a familiar excitement to the valley.
For a few weeks, Kashmir does more than watch the World Cup. It lives it.
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