Football makes the world go round This composite image shows one fan from each of the 48 national teams participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. (more) The Agony and Ecstasy of Football Fandom: Soccer Chants, Chaos, and Community Written by Gitanjali Roy Gitanjali Roy is deputy managing editor, Encyclopaedia Britannica. She has over two decades of editorial experience across digital and broadcast media. Gitanjali Roy Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated June 1, 2026 •History Every football (soccer) match begins long before the whistle for kickoff—it is preceded by a chorus of songs and chants by fans who transform pubs and stadiums into a carnival. For millions of people across the globe, football is a way of life that shapes identity and builds a community like nothing else. Supporters invest time, energy, money, and, most important, emotion in their chosen clubs and national teams. An estimated 3.5 billion people watch...

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