Each fandom has its peculiarities.

It could be their pre-game rituals, their chants during the match or their choice of garb.

Regardless, the estimated 2.85 million attendees at the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches so far have at least two things in common.

A love of football and a fierce loyalty to their home team, riding the emotional rollercoaster powered by their fortunes on the pitch.

From riding the highest of highs …a large crowd at night jump and cheer while smoke flares are set off behind them Bosnia and Herzegovina fans in Sarajevo celebrate after Jovo Lukic scored their first goal.(Reuters: Amel Emric)a woman stands defiant fist in the air celebrating Iran fans watch the match between Belgium and Iran at a cinema in Tehran.(Reuters)

… to crashing to the lowest of lows.

two women in yellow and green brasil clothes gasp in horror/shock Fans gather in Rio de Janeiro to watch Brazil v Morocco on Copacabana beach.(Reuters)spanish fans with hands to their heads upset Fans gather in Boston to watch Spain v Cape Verde.(Reuters: Pilar Olivares)

From stadiums awash with colour …

a packed growd in a stadium waving german flags Germany fans in the stands during their match against Curaco.(Reuters: Maria Lysaker)a packed crowd in a stadum all in dark blue Caracao jerseys Curacao fans in the game against Germany.(Reuters: Annegret Hilse)a packed crowd in a stadium all wearing red Norway jerseys miming a rowing action Norway fans performing the viral rowing celebration.(Reuters: Dylan Martinez)

… to viewing parties across the globe …

world cup 2026 vienna viewing party A viewing party for Austria v Jordan at Cafe Sperl in Vienna, Austria.(Reuters: Lisa Leutner)three women among a crowd dressed in the colours of the south african flag cheering Fans gather in Johannesburg to watch Mexico v South Africa.(Reuters: Siphiwe Sibeko)world cup 2026 Japan viewing party Japan fans celebrate after Japan’s Daichi Kamada scores their second goal.(Reuters: Manami Yamada)

… and hitting the streets to let locals know your team has arrived.

a parade of croatian fans walking under a giant red and white checkered flag Croatia fans parade through Dallas.(Reuters: Kai Pfaffenbach)a large crowd of argentinian fans gather in times square - awash with light blue jerseys Argentina fans gather in Times Square.(Reuters: Carolina Herrera)a scottish bagpipe band plays on a boston street Scotland’s Tartan Army marches to Boston’s Fenway Park baseball stadium.(Reuters: Bob Dechiara)’No Scotland, No Party’

Scotland is competing in the World Cup for the first time in 28 years and the country’s fans have shown up in force.

Tens of thousands of them packed into Boston for the team’s first two games, where local bars reported being close to running out of beer.

The tartan army, who have now made their way to Miami, have taken to the streets to blast Scotland the Brave on the bagpipes, and sing renditions of unofficial football anthem No Scotland No Party.

“I wasn’t sure about the States hosting the World Cup but they’ve done us proud really,” Karl Johnston, a 57-year-old civil servant from Glasgow, said.

“From the police to the bar staff and the locals, it’s been a really beautiful experience.”

Where culture is proudly on display …two people wearing traditional japanese dress and warrior face paint posing for the photo Fans enjoy the match between Tunisia and Japan.(Reuters: Eloisa Sanchez)a man wearing a white thobe and headscarfe and sunglasses, while others in the same attire sit behind him A fan prepares to watch Canada v Qatar at BC Place, Vancouver.(Reuters: Anne-Marie Sorvin)

… and tributes are paid to the legends of the game …

argentinian fans - one wearing a giant lionel messi head atop his own A fan pays tribute to Lionel Messi after the Argentina v Austria match in Dallas Stadium, Texas.(Reuters: Maria Lysaker)australian football fans - two drinking from a shoe - while another holds a giant carboard hary souttar head Fans drink “shoeys” with a cardboard Harry Souttar at the Australia v Turkey match.(Reuters: Albert Gea)

… and buckets upon buckets of face paint are lathered onto the brave.

a boy wearing a horned helmet and white and blue face faint cheering A young Scotland fan celebrates after Haiti v Scotland.(Reuters: Peter Cziborra)a portait shot of a man with bright blue facepaint with a yellow star and white stripes A Uruguay fan inside the stadium before the match between Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.(Reuters: Nathan Ray Seebeck)a man wearing bright red face paint and a horned helmet A Norway fan prepares to watch Norway v Senegal at New Jersey Stadium.(Reuters: Vincent Carchietta)’We carry it in our blood’

In Mexico, 92-year-old Irene Rosell Soriano sat in her wheelchair with the Mexican flag draped across her legs.

Cheering as she watched her country’s national team in the World Cup opening match, she was likely the oldest football fan gathered under a bridge in the neighbourhood of Tacuba.

an older woman smiles at the camera waring a mexico jersey Irene Soriano celebrates Mexico’s win.(AP)a Mexican flag draped across a lap, while two eldery hands rest on top “I love soccer,” says Ms Soriano.(AP)

“It had been a long time since I had been to a soccer match,” she said.

“And did you think I was going to miss a World Cup? No way, of course not!

“That’s the extent of [the love for] soccer. We carry it in our blood.”

Ms Soriano would be immortalised online a few days later when she became the centre of celebrations after Mexico defeated Korea.

Where flags become security blankets …two woman use a carpe verde flag to partially cover their faces, stressed Cape Verde fans in Boston react as they watch Uruguay v Cape Verde. (Reuters: Peter Cziborra)a small child holds a tiny islamic republic of iran flag in front of his face A young Iran fan holds up their national flag inside the stadium before the Iran v New Zealand match.(Reuters: Daniel Cole)

… for lifelong fans who show up time and time again …

three men wearing sombreros and mexican cultural dress holding a flag Mexico super fan Héctor “Caramelo” Chávez attends his 11th World Cup with his son Caramelo Jr.(Reuters: Hannah McKay)a man in an argentinian jersey raises his hands out to messi A fan celebrates with Lionel Messi during Argentina v Austria at Dallas Stadium.(Reuters)

… and first-time fans forging lifelong memories.

in a crowd of mexican fans a young girl sits on someone's shoulders cheering A young fan during Mexico v South Africa.(Reuters: Hannah McKay)three boys in spanish jerseys cheer and hug each other Fans celebrate in Madrid after Spain’s Lamine Yamal scores his team’s first goal against Saudi Arabia.(Reuters: Mohammed Salem)’We’re going to wake up the king’

Norway’s “rowing” celebration has taken the World Cup by storm.

Sitting in rows resembling those of a Viking longboat, conducted by the beat of a drum, fans mime rowing while chanting “Ro” (pronounced “roo”).

The ritual has made its way from the stadiums back to Norway, where celebrations erupted in Oslo when the country beat Senegal.

With the match finishing at 4am, a large crowd marched up the city’s main thoroughfare towards the royal residence, chanting “We’re going to wake up the king.”

Upon reaching the palace square at sunrise, hundreds of fans sat on the ground to perform the “rowing” celebration.

The Norwegian Royal House declined to comment on whether the king and queen had been awoken by the festivities.

dozens of norwegian fans 'row' in front of a palace building Supporters of the Norwegian football team perform the Viking Row at the royal palace in Oslo, Norway.(Reuters: Martin Giaever)From the red white and blue …four people walking doan a street at night facing away, with US flags on their backs Outside the Los Angeles Stadium after United States v Paraguay.(Reuters: Mario Anzuoni)man wearing USA shirts and hats jump, cheer and hug Fans gather in Houston celebrating USA’s win over Paraguay. (Reuters: Phil noble)

… to the oranje army …

a crowd of netherlands fans dressed in orange - a man and woman in traditional dress in the centre Netherlands fans gather on their way to play Sweden.(Reuters: Mark Felix)an aerial view of a large parade of people wearing orange and double decker orange bus The oranje (orange) army assembles.(Reuters: Joseph Buvid)

… and, of course, the green and gold.

in a sea of australian fans on man holds up a green and gold scarf that says 'Australia' Fans support the Socceroos during United States v Australia in Seattle.(Reuters: Troy Wayrynen)two young people wearing aussie jerseys, australian flags as capes and green and gold face paint Aussies don the green and gold at Seattle Stadium.(Reuters: Blake Dahlin)world cup 2026 australia fans 3 Fans fill Seattle Stadium for Australia’s match against the United States.(Reuters: Troy Wayrynen)

The world game would be nothing without its fans.