The Athletic is launching a sweeping project called “The Language of Soccer” that will trace the voice of football fans across all 48 nations slated to participate in the 2026 World Cup. The initiative aims to capture the essence of being a supporter through a single phrase that each country’s fan base has refined and voted upon.
How a phrase becomes a rallying cry
Fans were invited to propose a short expression that encapsulates the experience of backing their national team. Those suggestions were then put to supporters’ groups and networks for a vote, ensuring that the winning phrase reflects a consensus built from the ground up.
Each nation’s story is framed around its winning phrase, weaving together the music that pumps through stadiums, the food that fuels chants, the historical moments that shape identity, and the language that binds communities. The result is a richly textured portrait that goes far beyond scores and statistics.
A daily countdown to kickoff
The series will roll out one article per day in the weeks leading up to the tournament, releasing a new group of nations each day until all 48 have been featured. This cadence creates a countdown that builds anticipation while giving each culture its own moment in the spotlight.
By publishing all 48 pieces before the World Cup begins, The Athletic not only highlights the diversity of fan culture but also underscores the global reach of the sport. The project serves as a reminder that football is as much about shared rituals and regional flavors as it is about competition on the pitch.
The Athletic’s editorial team, including reporters such as Adam Leventhal, Carl Anka, Colin Millar, Dermot Corrigan, Eduardo Tansley, Elias Burke, Felipe Cardenas, Greg O'Keeffe, Gregg Evans, Henry Bushnell, Jack Lang, Jack Pitt-Brooke, Jacob Whitehead, Jay Harris, Jordan Campbell, Joshua Kloke, Max Mathews, Michael Bailey, Nick Miller, Paul Tenorio, Phil Buckingham, Sam Lee, Seb Stafford-Bloor, Simon Hughes, Thom Harris, Tim Spiers, Tom Burrows, Tom Williams, Tomás Hill López-Menchero, Ahmed Walid, John Stanton, Kavya Beheraj, Eamonn Dalton, and Jonah Smith, will guide the storytelling across the series.