[The Soup Nazi]

From Fareed Zakaria's newsletter:

The Reality of ‘Fake Fans’

This World Cup has been rife with political controversy—notably over human rights in host country Qatar—but fandom itself has endured a kerfuffle. After a group of South Asian supporters of England were accused from afar of being “fake fans,” Financial Times sports editor Josh Noble reflects on a changing relationship between fans and the sport worldwide.

“If football is a matter of identity—personal or national—how can someone cheer for Argentina at 1pm, then don the yellow of rivals Brazil hours later?” Noble asks, hypothetically. “But like it or not, this is the modern game. This World Cup has showcased a vision of football where national teams are more like brands that anyone can consume, and where preference can be based on mood or marketing. When Fifa talks about a ‘World Cup for everyone’, this is what it means in practice.”