What does the World Cup mean to you?

With the World Cup taking place for the first time in the winter season, soccer fans are excited to watch the games with family and friends. Even those who are not soccer fans gather at the TV to watch the teams play and even root for their country — if their country is playing — or just root for a country they like or think will perform well this year.

The World Cup conjures a mix of emotions for everyone who watches it. You see fans yelling, hear their excitement when the team they are rooting for scores a goal and even hear their frustration when they miss a goal or are about to lose. The World Cup, in its own way, brings people together — not only physically in the same place but also emotionally.

Nicolas Aguier
“I don’t like to support Brazil even though I’m Brazilian. … So after three World Cups this is the first time that I support Brazil. I think Brazil has no structure to have a Brazilian team. Brazilians have a lot of problems and we can’t support a team if we have a lot of serious problems. But, this year is good for me. I think the team is a good team, it has good players. I am very excited for the World Cup.
 

Santino Benedetti
“I get very anxious, it’s something that happens every four years that is very important to me. I am Argentinian and I feel it very deeply, so much so that if we get eliminated, I can’t even tell you how I’d feel.”

Nicole Cardoso
“I guess the family coming together. … It means family. Out of my country (Brazil) I live it with my friends.”
 

Diego Chaparro
“Honestly the World Cup means everything to me. I grew up watching it as a kid and it’s something I really cherish. It’s every four years and it’s just something special and I thing my favorite thing about it is how it brings everyone together — it doesn’t matter where you are from or where you are watching it — everyone loves soccer. I watch the games with my friends, I bet on games, I buy jerseys, I just really get myself into it.
 

Hector Di Santana
“Brazil winning. I am from Brazil so I really live the World Cup because when the World Cup happens, the favelas, (in Brazil) they all come together the go out on the street and everything. I don’t know here, I think Americans don’t like it as much but I think Brazil is the best way to be if you are going to watch the World Cup.”
 

Chad Lytle
“The World Cup means USA versus the world. (Some) Americans know nothing about soccer but they come together because the USA is playing and that’s what we do: we come together as a country and as fans, even though we don’t know the sport that’s just what we do and we have good fans.”
 

Richard Markinson
“I’ve been a soccer fan all my life, my family is from Europe — Belgium and Germany. They lost, … but I love it, it’s in my blood. (The World Cup) makes everybody come together and that’s what it’s all about.”
 

Matthew Niedoba
“The World Cup brings everybody together from all the countries and … I always root for the USA. … USA has never won a World Cup but I’d like to see them win it once in my lifetime. It’s like being an Eagles fan, I saw them once, … I saw a Super Bowl victory once so I’d like to see the USA win the World Cup at least once.”
 

Eleazar Ocando
“It means a time to get with friends and watch some soccer. I watch the games with my friends, buying the jerseys and supporting my team.”
 

Sophia Pinto and Livia Borowiec
“We usually spend time with our friends and family, yelling and screaming a lot when watching the games, we do barbecues. The World Cup is a good moment to share with family because we always watch it together and cheer for our country.”
 

Isabella Sao Jose
“I’m Brazilian so we all like to cheer for our team It’s super fun to get everyone together when our team is playing, it’s fun to watch. To me, the World Cup means being with my friends and family and cheering for my team.”
 

Amanda Torquoto
“I’m Brazilian, you can tell, but it’s very emotional to feel everything outside of our country. We are very passionate about (soccer) and the World Cup, and now I have the opportunity to experience it with my children in another country so it’s very exciting. The World Cup is when I feel more patriotic about my country so, I don’t like soccer — I don’t like sports at all — but I feel very excited when the World Cup (happens) because I get to root for my country.”