World Cup fever heating up Fans choose teams based on love, looks and loyalty

Lisa does not know much about football, but she knows one thing for sure - Neymar is enough reason to support Brazil.

Standing in downtown Kingston, the shopper declared that her love for the Brazilian star was more about fantasy.

“A Neymar a my man!” she told THE STAR. “Right now me wouldn’t mind sharp him come collect me from the shackles a this country and next year we go run up and dung inna the Brazil water fi New Year’s.”

Her wish appeared to reference Brazil’s popular New Year’s beach customs, where revellers often gather by the sea, dress in white and jump waves for good luck. 

“A better him dweet cause my man nah dweet! A Neymar mi seh,” she said. “Mi nuh know a thing bout football but from my eye deh a my knee, a Brazil my family seh fi World Cup. So a Brazil me deh. Look how Neymar nice?”

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup under way, football fever has already reached downtown Kingston, where vendors, shoppers and hairdressers are picking sides, defending favourites and laughing over the players who have caught their attention. 

World Cup loyalties in Jamaica often run deep, with many fans backing countries such as Brazil (five-time champions), Argentina (three-time winners and defending champs), England (one-time winner) and Portugal (yet to win).

But for some fans, football loyalty is based on childhood memories, family tradition, favourite players and, for some women, the footballers who make the game entertaining before a ball is even kicked.

“A nuh bout the game fi me. Me just wa know say my team win cause a pure look-good man deh pan me team,” Lisa said.

While Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior has become one of Brazil’s biggest current stars, Neymar remains one of the country’s most recognisable and admired footballers among casual fans. Before Neymar, Lisa said, another Brazilian player had caught her eye.

“One time a did Marcelo before him retire. Him look like him coulda carry me go pan the north coast, Negril go eat fish and bammy and take some picture. Him seem like dah type deh,” she said.  

“Me know as a woman a nuh me alone fantasise bout dem player yah,” she added.

Another Brazil supporter, Sash, said her love for the team is serious and long-standing. The hope is that Brazil will win a sixth title.

“Yes a one Vini (Vinícius Júnior), yuh know say a Brazil a me team. A dem affi take it home. A six star we want,” she said. “Vini a my favourite player. A him a the hottest thing, a the newest thing a come out.”

Asked if she would go on a date with the player, Sash did not hesitate.

“If him fi take me pan a date? Anywhere him wa go mi ready eno,” she said, laughing.

But beyond the admiration, Sash insisted that she is no bandwagon fan.

“I’ve been a supporter from mi know miself and know World Cup. Me cya deal wid the wagonist business. Win, lose or draw,” she said. She admitted, however, that Brazil’s opening performance, a 1-1 draw with Morocco, did not fully please her.

“The first match deh side yah look shaken, but we will bounce back. Mi believe inna mi side. All when time dem nuh make it, mi still a seh Brazil,” she said.

On Princess Street, a hairdresser who calls herself Speedy, also named Brazil as her team. Her favourite players are Vinícius Júnior and Neymar.

“Mi nuh know why, but me just like dem two deh. Them can play good,” she said. Speedy said her support was simple and firm.

“Mi nuh know, eno, but a Brazil mi a cheer fah. Brazil a mi favourite,” she said.

And if the players were to invite her somewhere, she said she would not turn them down.

“Anywhere dem wa take me, dem take me, different from Jamaica still,” she said.

But not everyone was cheering for Brazil. Vendor Juliette proudly declared her support for Argentina, who are scheduled to open their Group J campaign against Algeria today. Juliette said her love for the team goes back many years and was influenced by former striker Sergio ‘Kun’ Agüero, who retired from professional football in 2021, but remains loved by many Argentina fans.

“Mi make me grandson name Kun Agüero, so mi affi love him. Mi like how him play,” she said. “Him play like him was playing fi the team.” She believes Argentina will remain a force in 2026.

“We affi win. Nothing cya make we lose. A we a win 2026 World Cup,” she said.

But Chris, another shopper, said some casual fans are drawn to players because of appearance and personality.

“Kids and women don’t really understand the game and choose based upon appearance,” he said. Chris said he is a Lionel Messi fan and believes players like Cristiano Ronaldo often attract more casual supporters because of image and marketability.

“Messi no really care. Him just wa play football and go back home,” he said.