When billions breathed together

The Fifa World Cup concluded on Sunday, but fans are yet to come out of the vibe. It was a lifestyle for the last few days.

The time difference of the matches did not matter to the fans who sat up and watched their favourite players compete. The adrenaline rush must have been the same as one playing on the field. It was indeed an unusual World Cup final with both teams going nil until Spain beat holders Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the trophy.

Post-match, it was chaotic on the field, but amidst all that, one could also see Yamine Lamal; the energy has been similar amongst the football fans too.

The supporters of the winning team have been walking around with a smile and an air of achievement. And the fans of other teams have been all about disappointment and irritation. People did not mind staying up late and waking up and rushing to work. You could tell from people's expressions which team they were supporting.

One person explained how he was watching with everyone at their staff accommodation, and he said he did not want to express too much enthusiasm for his team because the majority of the supporters were for the opposite team. This was the time when friends became rivals and people forgot about challenges.

Football, when it comes to the World Cup, seems to be a worldwide emotion. I do not know which one people enjoy the most – the spectacular goals or the breathtaking saves.

This year around, I was more excited about the saves.

To me it is similar to life. Just like a football match, life consists of goals (achievements), saves (overcoming challenges), and misses (missed opportunities).

The World Cup united people in such a way that people overlooked differences. A victory can fill an entire nation with joy, and a defeat can break many hearts. Life heals because this status changes when another stronger emotion is experienced.

It also shows how everyone enjoys winning, and for the last few weeks we have been wanting the players to do that for us.

Did you notice another aspect? All the selected players are in top form, but some stood out. Why? We not only want to see a display of good skills; we also want them to be entertainers. Some of them have this as an inborn skill. Surely during those precious minutes, when they are testing their resilience, entertainment is the last thing on their mind. But the emotions are raw, and people connect with emotions.

For some countries, football has been part of their identity. Each edition brings out heroes.

The World Cup celebrates diversity because more than 40 teams bring their traditions, styles, and cultures onto one stage, and not to forget the spectators. Not everyone plays football, but so many enjoy watching it spread across the globe. It was as if billions of people were breathing together.

We also saw technology enter the arena. The simple football is so sophisticated today. In the past it was all about 22 players chasing a football with billions of people glued to screens watching each move. But now the football has built-in technology, starting with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor. It can track the exact moment the ball is kicked, send data to the video operations room, and provide analytics that include ball speed, trajectory, and patterns of play.

However, football is still all about emotions and determination. It displays physical energy, but the mind plays an important role.

At each edition, the Fifa World Cup teams display intelligence on many levels, such as tactical intelligence, decision-making, spatial awareness, emotional intelligence (the players perform in front of billions), and collective intelligence (they should perform as a unit).

Now the players have gone home, and the stadiums for the time being might be quiet but not as quiet as the seconds before a penalty shot.

Some of the great players would have retired by the time the teams qualify and appear for the next Fifa World Cup. But you will always remember where you were on World Cup Final 2026 and the skills and resilience you observed in the last few weeks.

Lakshmi Kothaneth

The writer is a senior editor of Observer