Messi, Ronaldo and Midnight Screenings: World Cup Mania Hits Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: The FIFA World Cup, which begins on June 12 and runs until July 20 (IST), has sparked fresh excitement among football fans in Hyderabad.
Across the city, football enthusiasts are planning to watch matches at special screenings, while some supporters have travelled abroad to experience the tournament in person.
Interest in the tournament has grown further in Hyderabad following Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s interaction with Argentine football star Lionel Messi during the G.O.A.T. India Tour at Uppal Stadium in December.
Fans Rally Behind Their Favourite Teams
Ronald Benedict, a striker with local club Royal United, said the tournament held special significance for him.
“I grew up watching Cristiano Ronaldo and this is his last World Cup. I will be cheering for Portugal. I plan to watch the matches with my teammates at a common place,” he said.
Football loyalties in the city remain largely split between supporters of Messi’s Argentina and Ronaldo’s Portugal. Many fans are preparing for late-night viewing sessions because of match timings.
Special Screenings Planned Across the City
According to Ketan Agarwal, director of a hospitality group that operates bars in Hyderabad, customer interest remains high despite the scheduling challenges.
“There is a lot of excitement among clients to watch these matches, but the timings are odd in India. Some matches end around midnight. We are working out special screenings for those matches,” he said.
Meanwhile, fan clubs, youth groups and university students are organising midnight screenings across the city. Social media platforms have already seen videos of jersey displays, car rallies and football-themed gatherings from several neighbourhoods.
Hyderabad Fans Travel Overseas for the Tournament
A section of Hyderabad-based supporters has chosen to travel overseas to watch the matches live.
Businessman Moses Reddy said he would attend games in North America.
“I am travelling to the USA and Canada to watch some of the matches,” he said.
Mustafah Hussain Syed, vice-president of operations for a hotel group in New York, said demand for accommodation had increased during the tournament period.
“Indian visitors may number between 5,000 and 10,000, but strict visa and screening processes have restricted the numbers,” he told the media.
