For a city that usually spills onto the streets, into pubs, sports bars and rooftop screenings, this World Cup night will look different. With the summit clash between Spain and Argentina kicking off close to midnight on Sunday, and most restaurants and pubs shutting well before that, Mumbai’s football faithful are not waiting for the city to open up. Instead, they are turning their own drawing rooms into fan zones, and settling in for a night that will stretch well past 3am. Across the city’s homes, the ritual is the same: a big screen, a loud television, familiar faces, and a match too big to sleep through.THE STADIUM IS WHEREVER THE TV IS ONFor Mithun Dasgupta, a finance professional from Vikhroli, the timing of the final has turned into an unlikely excuse for an upgrade. “We recently bought a massive TV, and now my son and I are looking forward to watching the match on our big screen. My friend and his sons will come over too,” he says.While some Mumbaikars have plans to watch the final at sports bars and pubs, others are trying to recreate the mood at home. Tanukripa Pal, an educator from Andheri (E), shares, “I am hosting a house party and my friends will come over. We plan to wear our favourite team colours. The idea is to bring some of the carnival energy of a stadium, the colours, the noise, the nervousness, into our drawing room.”THE OFFICE BECOMES THE OTHER FAN ZONENot everyone is watching from home, though. For those already pulling late shifts, the office has doubled up as an impromptu fan zone through the knockout rounds. Ashish Patil, a media professional based in Santacruz, says his workplace in South Mumbai has essentially been running its own tournament-long viewing party. “I stay far from office, so after work, it is impossible to reach home in time for the match. Due to my profession we usually have to stay in office till midnight. For the quarter-finals and semis, we had our office TVs on, and watched matches with the team. This Sunday too, we will be in office, and we will catch the finale tonight.”BEYOND THE MATCH: The festivities will begin even earlier with FIFA’s World Cup closing ceremony, scheduled to start 90 minutes before the kickoff and featuring appearances by Tom Cruise, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Hudson, Laura Pausini, Post Malone and others.For the first time, the World Cup final will have a Super Bowl-style halftime show. The lineup includes Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel and the PS22 Chorus, with Coldplay’s Chris Martin serving as the creative curator.Messi or Yamal? Mumbai can’t decide Interestingly, there is strong support for both teams. Entreprenuer Rohan Mehta, who is hosting a watch party at his Bandra home, says, “I’m backing Argentina because this could be Lionel Messi’s last World Cup final, and I want to see Argentina lift the trophy one more time. Most of my friends, though, are rooting for Spain and Lamine Yamal. It’s become a friendly rivalry, and I know the celebrations- or the teasing- will go on till sunrise.” Suman Chakraborty, art director, shares, “I will be watching the final at a friend’s place with a group of fellow football fans. Football is simply better when watched with friends. I’m a Cristiano Ronaldo fan, but for the final I’ll be supporting Spain. I’ve really enjoyed watching Marc Cucurella throughout the tournament, and I’m hoping Spain finishes the job.”
