The Guardian is seeking stories from football fans who support a national team at the 2026 World Cup despite having no personal or ancestral connection to that country. While FIFA requires players to demonstrate a 'genuine link'—such as citizenship or family heritage—to represent a nation, no such rule applies to supporters.
Why do you support a team from afar?
Perhaps you follow a particular player, admire the club affiliations of the squad, or simply enjoy the team's playing style. Whatever the reason, we want to hear your unique perspective. Whether you adopted a team years ago or just recently started cheering for a foreign side, your experience matters.
How to share your story
If you are 18 or over, you can tell us which team you support using our online form. Contributions may be anonymous if you prefer. Your responses are secure: the form is encrypted, and only The Guardian has access to the data provided. We will use the information solely for this feature and delete personal data when it is no longer needed.
Alternatively, you can message us on WhatsApp at +447766780300. For fully anonymous communication, please use our Secure Messaging service. For more details, refer to our terms of service and privacy policy.
