A week into the FIFA World Cup 2026, NCR’s football fans and communities have settled into a month of midnight alarms, weekend watch plans and caffeine-fuelled mornings. While North American time zones have made live viewing a challenge, fans are finding their own ways to experience the tournament – through at-home gatherings, football turf sessions and community screenings.‘World Cup fever is catching on strongly with Gen Z and young corporate groups’Not every football enthusiast may make it through the late-night fixtures. “The timings are such that most Indian football fans will miss the broadcasts, as it’s difficult to stay awake or wake up in the wee hours, even if you’re a die-hard football fan,” says Raj Hazarika, founder of Ryder’s Sports Academy in Gurgaon.“But I am witnessing World Cup fever catch on strongly with Gen Z and young corporate groups. They are booking turfs after office hours and planning to play till late at night, bringing their own speakers and music along,” he adds.
For some fans, catching matches is a balancing act between time zones, fandom and adulting
For fans, match starts on the turf and ends at a watch partyAt Humans of Football, a community with over 20,000 members in NCR, the World Cup is bringing football lovers together both on and off the pitch. “Fans are playing the game themselves on turfs across the city before settling in to watch the matches together,” says co-founder Siddhant Dahiya. Shrey Pandey, founder of All Things Fun community, adds, “If the timings permit, I’m sure there will be screenings around NCR. Big tournaments are always best enjoyed with fellow fans.”For Apoorv, founder and coach at Vision Royal Rangers Football Academy in Gurgaon, the World Cup excitement spills over into everyday routines. “I play regularly with a group of friends and footballers I’ve known for years. During WC, there’s always a special buzz around our games as well.”
Delhi football fans are making a day of it
‘The 10.30pm and 1.30am slots are the ones most likely to see screenings’While cafe screenings may be reserved for matches with relatively convenient kick-off timings, hospitality players are noticing a growing appetite for shared watching experiences. “Fans increasingly want experiences that bring them together, whether that’s through breakfast clubs, community runs or live sporting events. The timing may be different this season, but the spirit of the game remains unchanged,” says Abhinav Jindal, founder of BeeYoung Brewgarden, which plans to host screenings of matches kicking off at 9.30pm and 10.30pm.“The 10.30pm and 1.30am slots are the ones most likely to see screenings. The 3.30am and 5.30am kick-offs are unlikely to attract venue-led screenings because of licensing constraints and lower footfalls,” says Dhairya Magan, co-founder of OffCourt, a sports community that regularly organises screenings. “For late matches, fans will largely tune in on their own or gather friends for sleepover watch parties,” he adds.
‘Kids want the new jerseys, and even the official match ball that’s available in stores’
‘Kids want the new jerseys, and even the official match ball that’s available in stores’While there are no dedicated World Cup events at the Bhaichung Bhutia Football School, senior coach Manu Prakash Chhatri has noticed a clear shift in conversations among his students. “The kids are discussing the new microchip-powered technology being used in the World Cup match ball, their favourite players and goalkeepers, and debating who they think will win the WC,” he shares. The excitement has also translated into off-field demands. “They want the new jerseys, and even the official match ball that’s available in stores,” he adds.
