World Cup watch parties fill public spaces from Berlin to Seoul
AP and AFP images show fans gathering in cafes, plazas, fan zones and homes as the 2026 World Cup unfolds across time zones.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
Football supporters are gathering in public spaces and homes around the world to watch the 2026 World Cup, according to images published by Al Jazeera with photographs from AP and AFP. The scenes show how the tournament is being followed far from the stadiums, with fans using cafes, courtyards, parks, rooftops, community spaces and living rooms as match venues.
AP photographs show supporters watching the World Cup opener between Mexico and South Africa in several cities. Fans gathered at a coffee shop in Aden, Yemen; on the National Mall in Washington, DC; and in Cairo, Egypt, according to AP captions. In Vereeniging, South Africa, AP photographed a family watching the opening match at home.
The same match also drew Mexico supporters to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where AP photographed fans celebrating a goal during a live broadcast. The images place part of the tournament’s atmosphere in watch parties far from the pitch, with supporters wearing team colours and reacting together to key moments.
Other AP images show large public gatherings tied to matches involving national teams from several regions. In New York City, Brazil fans sang during a public watch party in Central Park for Brazil’s match against Morocco. In Sao Paulo, Brazil, AP photographed people at a Homeless Workers Movement housing occupation celebrating Brazil’s goal against Morocco during a watch party.
In Berlin, AP photographed fans watching Germany play Curacao in the inner courtyard of the Kulturbrauerei. In Istanbul, supporters watched Australia against Turkey on a giant screen at the historic Yedikule fortress, according to AP. In Sarajevo, Bosnia fans celebrated their team’s opening goal against Canada at a fan festival.
Several images focused on supporters following matches from their home countries. AP photographed South Korea fans at a public viewing venue in Seoul as they watched their team play Czechia in a match held in Mexico. In Asuncion, Paraguay supporters watched Paraguay face the United States, while in Mindelo, Cape Verde, a fan reacted during Cape Verde’s match against Spain.
In Port-au-Prince, AP photographed Haiti supporters watching their team’s match against Scotland, which was played in Foxborough, Massachusetts. One image showed fans gathered at a viewing party, while another showed Haiti fans watching from a tree.
AP also documented celebrations and watch parties in North America tied to teams from outside the host region. Qatar supporters celebrated after a match against Switzerland in Santa Clara, California, near San Francisco. Saudi Arabia fans cheered in a pedestrian zone in Vancouver, British Columbia, during the tournament.
In Egypt, AP photographed fans at a Cairo coffee shop celebrating their team’s opening goal against Belgium, with graffiti of Mohamed Salah visible in the background. AFP photographed Iranians watching Iran’s match against New Zealand at Tehran Book Garden in the capital.
Al Jazeera described the gallery as a look at how the World Cup reaches daily life through shared viewing, from crowded fan zones to quieter home gatherings. The images show supporters adjusting to different settings and time zones while following the same tournament from cities across the world.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.