Qatar WC | Fans and Atmosphere Watch

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Thing is, it's hard to know 'cos Indian fans are a) numerous and b) do travel.

You just have to look at the support at the T20 World Cup just now... obviously thats different level 'cos it's the Indian Cricket... but there will surely be some genuine passionate Indian support for football and at this WC
 

Pogue Mahone

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Obviously no one knows for certain but I’ve seen lots of social media posts saying the group sizes and drums look like they’re templates/similar.

also, at other WCs (I’ve seen a lot), I’ve not seen almost every fan in a group all wear latest country tops. Some do, some wear vintage, some wear own clothes. For example, England.. you’d get white (new and vintage), red, grey?

again, can’t say for certain (until a journalist posts a photo of 100 guys changing from Spain tops to Uruguay tops) but just feels/looks so clinical and organised.

Maybe it’s not organised to give the world a positive view of Qatars WC, maybe every fan does happen to look similar and all wear brand new tops, maybe the Danish journalist was doing something wrong when they stopped him filming and said they might smash his camera. Who knows?
You’re making a lot of assumptions there. Not that it matters. Fake fans. Real fans. It’s still a stupid place to host a World Cup.
 

Pogue Mahone

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Thing is, it's hard to know 'cos Indian fans are a) numerous and b) do travel.

You just have to look at the support at the T20 World Cup just now... obviously thats different level 'cos it's the Indian Cricket... but there will surely be some genuine passionate Indian support for football and at this WC
Exactly. And anyone from India who can afford to travel to Qatar to watch this WC can probably afford to treat themselves to a brand new England top to wear at the tournament.
 

Adam-Utd

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Exactly. And anyone from India who can afford to travel to Qatar to watch this WC can probably afford to treat themselves to a brand new England top to wear at the tournament.
There is proof that people are being paid to act as fans though?

I don't think Qatar are genuinely pretending this is the real fan base though are they? it feels more like an olympic opening ceremony kinda thing?

Nobody is really expecting us to believe that a group of well behaved asian looking men are the English fan base arriving :lol: there wasn't 1 trademark Eng-er-land chant to be heard.
 

The Firestarter

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Although one thing I don’t get is why anyone from a former colony would support England? They’re literally the last team on earth that anyone on Ireland would support, for that exact reason.
Well who wouldn't with a "super coach" like Southgate?
 
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Pogue Mahone

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Nobody is really expecting us to believe that a group of well behaved asian looking men are the English fan base arriving :lol: there wasn't 1 trademark Eng-er-land chant to be heard.
Nobody is claiming that. They’re obviously not English. They seem to be fans from somewhere else (India?) who happen to support the English team (probably because they’re PL fans)
 

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That would be normal amongst football fans from fairly conservative Muslim countries, I’d have though?
There may be a bit of that but to me it looks fake because all of these fan groups look and sound the same. By that, I don't mean their nationality or race but the size of the crowds, the flags and banners they have, the fact they are there so early, each groups seems to have at least 1 Qatar flag mixed amongst them. There's also barely a female in sight, from what I have seen.

Loads of things point to these groups being somewhat choreographed.
There's fewer women in those videos mainly because there's actually fewer women in the country. Sex ratio is extremely skewed due to huge number of expat males workers.
 

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Although one thing I don’t get is why anyone from a former colony would support England? They’re literally the last team on earth that anyone on Ireland would support, for that exact reason.
Good point. About 2 decades ago, supporting United and England went hand in hand for me. I grew out of it, many haven't, seemingly. It'll also be a case of supporting x team for a specific tournament.
 

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How do you know the background of the people in those videos though?
I posted an article earlier in this thread which explains more detail than the usual crap on Twitter

It's pretty obvious anyway, the vast majority of Qatar's population are migrant workers and most of them from the Subcontinent

Overseas fans would not be arriving in such numbers before the tournament kicks off
 

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Assuming you are serious and not mocking (can't really say these days)

Because they don't look English or European. People may deny it, but it is obvious in some of the posts. I am pretty sure many people won't have a problem when in next WC, the Americans come out supporting European teams.

Prejudice. Because Qatar bribed their way to the WC, hence everything has to be fake. Qataris and others living there are not fans of football.

In all previous WC, like the Brazil one, the "real fans" spent their own money and spontaneously dressed up and started a carnival. No one had to organize it. Marketing during a WC never existed and has only started with Qatar.

I think there is some serious lack of awareness about other parts of the world than England/Europe. Lot of people seem to believe that there is only one way to become a fan and that is by being born in that country.
You are projecting yourself, buddy

Americans doing this would look as cringe as those guys posted in this thread.

Also americans will be less likely to do this, because USA gonna be playing the next WC, no point cheering for team and doing parades signing songs for other NT when yours is participating, would look even more cringe.

Plus americans are very nationalist, can't see them organizing themselves to make a parade and sign songs for other NT...if someone tells me some people are doing it, the last people i would imagine doing that are americans.
 

Shai-Hulud

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These fan groups look pretty dang choreographed to me, but let's pretend otherwise in order to virtue-signal cultural sensitivity. :)
 

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Although one thing I don’t get is why anyone from a former colony would support England? They’re literally the last team on earth that anyone on Ireland would support, for that exact reason.
At least you can’t accuse them of gloryhunting!
 

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Although one thing I don’t get is why anyone from a former colony would support England? They’re literally the last team on earth that anyone on Ireland would support, for that exact reason.
Yeah, that kinda makes it worse though.

Imagine indonesians supporting Netherlands or filipinos supporting Japan.
 

mav_9me

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Although one thing I don’t get is why anyone from a former colony would support England? They’re literally the last team on earth that anyone on Ireland would support, for that exact reason.
Former colony 75 yrs ago. Its more supporting their favorite player rather than passionate support for England anyway no?
 

RedDevil@84

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That would be normal amongst football fans from fairly conservative Muslim countries, I’d have though?
You can give that to people from Bangladesh, but I’m not sure this works for India that’s often quoted (ridiculously IMO) as a country that finally has a chance to enjoy WC.
There are not many women that are into football in India. It is growing, but still not a lot. At least many of them are not fan enough to travel to another country to watch a game.
Migrants in Qatar are mostly men who are without their families. The main idea of working in middle east is that you earn as much as you can and convert it into home currency. Taking families to stay with them dents their profits.

And just that people would know, Qataris constitute 11.6% of the Qatar population. Indians, Bangaldeshis, Nepalis constitute 50% of the Qatar population.
 

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Although one thing I don’t get is why anyone from a former colony would support England? They’re literally the last team on earth that anyone on Ireland would support, for that exact reason.
They might support a premier league team, it wouldn’t be too surprising if a Indian United supporter wanted Rashford to do well at this World Cup, also they might have English family members.

In the last euro Rashford(Having the spent the last year helping with food banks)was one penalty away from winning the tournament for England. It takes a very cold hearted and bitter individual to cheer him missing………and I would happily do it again!
 

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Former colony 75 yrs ago. Its more supporting their favorite player rather than passionate support for England anyway no?
Maybe? I know a fair few Irish people who would hope for good tournament from English players from clubs they support. I want Rashford et al to have a good tournament, as individuals. But never in a million years would you see someone from Ireland wearing an England kit and singing “it’s coming home”.
 

Pogue Mahone

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They might support a premier league team, it wouldn’t be too surprising if a Indian United supporter wanted Rashford to do well at this World Cup, also they might have English family members.

In the last euro Rashford(Having the spent the last year helping with food banks)was one penalty away from winning the tournament for England. It takes a very cold hearted and bitter individual to cheer him missing………and I would happily do it again!
:lol:

My wife actually gave out to me and my son for running round the living room celebrating that moment. She couldn’t believe how we could live in England for 12 years (son was born there) have a load of English friends and support an English team yet cheer on an Italian victory.
 

Sweet Square

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My wife actually gave out to me and my son for running round the living room celebrating that moment. She couldn’t believe how we could live in England for 12 years (son was born there) have a load of English friends and support an English team yet cheer on an Italian victory.
:lol:

Honestly I was about 50/50 when he was doing the run up and then just before he hit ball, I decided I wanted him to miss.

Hopefully England go out early and get John Terry in as manager. Its horrible that their team is full of nice social aware/progressive lads.
 

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Although one thing I don’t get is why anyone from a former colony would support England? They’re literally the last team on earth that anyone on Ireland would support, for that exact reason.
I'd question why an Irish Man Utd fan wouldn't want to see Rashford, Shaw and Maguire do well on the International stage

But that's probably a whole other thread !
 

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Do Irish people hate England like United fans hate Liverpool?
They've got slightly more reason to dislike England as a nation in fairness.

I mean don't get me wrong I'm sure the scousers are still fuming about that ship canal but...
 

Norris Cole

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It's just so obviously choreographed for the TV cameras.

All of them are wearing the same style replica shirts, their drums are the same their banners are the same. The way they are marching past the TV cameras isn't how fans who were there purely for their own enjoyment would behave.

I am sure they are all football fans but they aren't doing this for free
 

groovyalbert

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I'm willing to think there may be an element of choreography/inauthenticity going on out there :lol:
 

Pogue Mahone

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Does anyone who lives in India (or any other country these fans could potentially come from) know if this is a thing in every World Cup? Do you get people adopting a team, wearing their kit, and ‘supporting’ them throughout the tournament?

Seems weird as feck to European eyes but I’m conscious that football is supported very differently all over the world (e.g. Americans who support individual players)
 

Ludens the Red

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Although one thing I don’t get is why anyone from a former colony would support England? They’re literally the last team on earth that anyone on Ireland would support, for that exact reason.
Tricky one. This current England squad has about 75% of it descending from colonised countries….
I get why it would be harder for someone born and raised in Ireland to ‘support’ England. But people with backgrounds from colonised nations who grew up in England simply won’t feel the same animosity.
 

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Does anyone who lives in India (or any other country these fans could potentially come from) know if this is a thing in every World Cup? Do you get people adopting a team, wearing their kit, and ‘supporting’ them throughout the tournament?

Seems weird as feck to European eyes but I’m conscious that football is supported very differently all over the world (e.g. Americans who support individual players)
I went to a United cafe/bar in Mumbai.
Their "United" chant was nothing like the actual one you hear. It was something like "YOU--NAYY--TEDD" split as 3 separate words almost. If I go by that then yes they tend to put their own twang on chants.
 

Pogue Mahone

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Tricky one. This current England squad has about 75% of it descending from colonised countries….
I get why it would be harder for someone born and raised in Ireland to ‘support’ England. But people with backgrounds from colonised nations who grew up in England simply won’t feel the same animosity.
Ah yeah. Different story if you’re born and raised in England. I mean, Jack Grealish actually plays for them!

Was thinking about people born and raised in former colonies. Feels weird to me that they would cheer England on.
 

Pogue Mahone

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I went to a United cafe/bar in Mumbai.
Their "United" chant was nothing like the actual one you hear. It was something like "YOU--NAYY--TEDD" split as 3 separate words almost. If I go by that then yes they tend to put their own twang on chants.
Have you ever seen them support national teams with a similar intensity to the way they support club teams?
 

Pogue Mahone

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Mental.

This bit was news to me.

It has long appeared that Qatar 2022 has had the whip hand in its relationship with Fifa. It was only three months ago that it requested the start date of the tournament be brought forward by a day, so that the Qatar team, as the hosts, could have the opening day all to themselves.
Disgraceful to change long-term traditions for these sort of reasons.
 

VP89

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Have you ever seen them support national teams with a similar intensity to the way they support club teams?
Havent' visited India during a world cup but id assume they are no way as invested in it as these "fans" in Qatar.
 

Rood

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Does anyone who lives in India (or any other country these fans could potentially come from) know if this is a thing in every World Cup? Do you get people adopting a team, wearing their kit, and ‘supporting’ them throughout the tournament?

Seems weird as feck to European eyes but I’m conscious that football is supported very differently all over the world (e.g. Americans who support individual players)
There are several posts in this thread from Asians confirming that this is standard football culture in that part of the world - lots of ignorant comments from those who have never been out of their back garden and can't understand that some might do it differently

BTW this is the article I mentioned
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...expats-welcome-england-to-team-hotel-in-qatar
 

Zlatattack

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Those England fans are fake. They're all sober, nobody is slurring, no tattoos and not a single pair of manboobs on display.