FIFA World Cup 2022: Kolkata rediscovers its love for football

As the FIFA World Cup 2022 kicked off on Sunday (November 10, 2022), people of Kolkata fast-slipped into football frenzy. Neighbourhoods and streets of the city could be seen decked up with flags, cut-outs of players, banners and graffiti. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

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   As the FIFA World Cup 2022 kicked off on Sunday (November 10, 2022), people of Kolkata fast-slipped into football frenzy. Neighbourhoods and streets of the city could be seen decked up with flags, cut-outs of players, banners and graffiti. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

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   Graffiti of the flags of different countries and players can be seen on several streets and lanes across North and South Kolkata, like Ultadanga, Bhabanipur, BaghaJatin, Alipore and Behala. (Express Photo by Shashi Ghosh)

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   Patuli Sports Lovers club expresses their support for the World Cup by painting the lane opposite Baishnabghata bus stop with faces of their favorite players. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

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   The frenzy around football in the city stems from the age-old Bangal Ghoti (people from East and West Bengal) rivalry. In pic, football fans are seen enjoying a match on the sides of a street in Patuli. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

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   Pubs and sports bars have also caught the football fever. They are adorned with flags of different countries playing this year, while some of them have gone ahead to tweak their menus and screen the match till late at night. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

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   It is also not a regular day for ten-year-old Kiyansh Bose. Unlike other days, he has gathered along with his family and friends at his school bus stop in Patuli's Baishnabghata to cheer for his favorite team Argentina. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

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   The bus stop has transformed into a mini football club with LED screens, cut-outs of players, especially Lionel Messi. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

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   From specially curated drinks, to offers and games, sports bars in Kolkata have been witnessing a full house, courtesy the World Cup (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

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   Shiv Shankar Patra, a tea seller from Ichapur Nawabganj in the city, expressed his love for Lionel Messi by unveiling the statue of the football icon. He got a 5 feet 7 inches tall statue of the Argentine player made from an artist of Dattapukur, worth Rs 50,000. (Express Photo by Shashi Ghosh)

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   Patra had been saving his money earned from his tea shop for several years to watch Messi play at a World Cup. However, not being able to visit Qatar to cheer for him was no excuse. He decorated the entire area, including his tea shop and house, with posters, and also wore a T-shirt starring the icon. (Express Photo by Shashi Ghosh)

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   The Patuli Sports Lovers Club, which has been screening matches for many years now, bought a 55-inch LED TV and sound boxes to put up a stadium-like feel, just days ahead of the match. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

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   Kolkata has been at the heart of Indian football with teams like East Bengal, ATK Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan hailing from the city. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)