If you live in a World Cup host city or state like I do, it's nearly impossible to go three blocks without hearing someone talk about the tournament.
The World Cup has become impossible to avoid in the best way. It's on TikTok, it's in group chats, it's on restaurant TVs, and somehow even people who haven't watched soccer in years suddenly have strong opinions. But while everyone else seems focused on what's happening on the field, I've become fascinated by what's happening around it. Because the more World Cup content I consumed, the more I realized some of the most interesting moments weren't happening during the matches at all. They were happening at the watch parties that my favorite host creators were putting together online.
They're building menus around competing countries, planning outfits around team colors, hosting friends in their homes, taking over bars, and documenting the entire experience online. Some are gathering to support their home countries. Some are showing up because their friend invited them. Some are there for the food. And some are showing up because they're tired of talking to the same three men on Hinge and hoping to run into a guy they haven't seen before at their local bar (and I don't blame them).
Honestly, the excitement makes sense. The World Cup is the largest sporting event in the world, attracting billions of viewers and bringing together countries, cultures, and communities from across the globe. In a moment when so many people are craving opportunities to connect in real life, the tournament has become the perfect excuse to gather.
For Tanya Marie, a Congolese-American content creator, celebrating DR Congo's return to the World Cup after 52 years wasn't something she was going to watch quietly from her couch. "After 52 years, DR Congo was finally back in the World Cup, and I wanted to celebrate that moment by opening my home and giving friends and family a true Congolese experience," she tells Popsugar.
"From the food and music to the energy and traditions, it was an opportunity to showcase how rich, beautiful, and vibrant our culture is." — Ralinda Watts
