2026 World Cup

World Cup 2026

The World Cup Is Coming to Boston-and BU's Soccer Fans Are Ready for Kickoff

Special photo essay celebrates the University's international community

-The Flags of Terrier Nation

Every Flag Has a Story

Click on the flags below to meet BU's international community of World Cup fans! Scroll down farther to see the complete photo gallery of supporters, each with their country's flag.

• Argentina

  Argentina!! My home country!

  -Vanesa Barbera · Adjunct Professor, Actuarial Science, Metropolitan College

• Austria

  Austria baby!

  -Tom Wotschiski (Questrom'28) · Student

• Brazil

  I grew up playing street soccer when I lived in Brazil, and I was the only girl out there. My brothers and all their friends would play barefoot, and we'd come home with our feet covered in dirt, looking like they were dipped in chocolate powder. My mom would laugh and tell us to go wash our "pé de toddy." As a little girl, my dream was to play soccer. But when I was living in Brazil, there weren't any girls' teams, so instead I was put in swim lessons and ballet. Still, those street games shaped me. They made me into such a strong player that, when I moved to the United States, I joined Academy Soccer in Sudbury. I was placed on the B team, and I was just so happy to finally be playing organized soccer. Years later… full quote

  -Kethleen DeAlmeida (SSW'27) · Student

  Brazil, because I'm Brazilian.

  -Lizandra Hawkinson (CAS'27) · Student

  Brazil! I was born and raised there. I grew up in a culture that really values soccer and the World Cup. I'm excited.

  -Sophia Izidoro · Student

• Cabo Verde

  I am proudly cheering on my Cabo Verde team who achieved qualification for the first time in its history and sealed a historic place at the World Cup 2026. WOO HOO!!!

  -Susan Gomes · Administrative Director, Epidemiology, School of Public Health

• Colombia

  John Gamba Rendon (SPH'26) will be supporting Colombia during the World Cup.

  Colombia is passion, Colombia is strength, Colombia is teamwork, Colombia is fair play, Colombia is diversity, Colombia is tradition! When Colombia goes to the match, it's not 11 players, it's the entire 48 million inhabitants of the country playing with them!

  -John Gamba Rendon (SPH'26) · Student

  I'm cheering on Colombia! I have lovely memories of watching the World Cup as a kid, and I'm excited to continue the tradition this year!!

  -Maya Lucia Merino (CFA'28) · Student

• Côte d'Ivoire

  Questrom Alum Joel Kouadio will be supporting Côte d'Ivoire during the World Cup.

  I'll be cheering for Côte d'Ivoire. As an Ivorian and someone deeply committed to youth engagement and national development, supporting "the Elephants" goes beyond football. It represents resilience, unity, and the pride of a country that continues to rise on the continental and global stages. International tournaments are powerful moments of collective identity, and seeing Côte d'Ivoire compete among 48 nations would be both symbolic and inspiring, after our last attendance in 2014.

  -Joel Kouadio (Questrom'26) · Alum

• Ecuador

  I am Ecuadorian, so I am cheering for Ecuador.

  -Paola Flores (CAS'28) · Student

• England

  Staff members James Belding (left) and Ian Glennon will be supporting England during the World Cup.

  I am cheering on England in the World Cup, because I am English by birth and mostly grew up there. This will be the 10th World Cup I have supported England in. (They didn't qualify for the 1994 World Cup!) Also, this might be…full quote

  -James Belding · Design Project Engineer, Learning & Event Technology Services (IS&T)

  ENGLAND! I was born and raised there. Every four years, the country drags out "It's Coming Home" and talks about 1966 as if it was the last time around, LOL…full quote

  -Ian Glennon · Lead Service Desk Specialist, Technology Experience & Community

  I am a long-suffering England fan, originally from England. I will be 40 years old when the World Cup starts, meaning that I'm too young to remember the last time England's men's team won anything significant (although I have been around to witness the women's team's recent triumphs).

  -Neil Myler · Associate Professor, Linguistics, College of Arts & Sciences

  There are three important dates in the history of England: 1066, 1666, and 1966. The first was the Battle of Hastings, when the Norman…full quote

  -Derek Fulker · Senior Training Associate, Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences

• France

  France! Because I'm French.

  -Orianne Wurtz (CAS'26) · Student

• Ghana

  Sisters, Whitney (left) and Danielle Amoako will be supporting Ghana during the World Cup.

  GHANAAAA WOOOOO! My entire family lives in Ghana. Ghana is home. God bless the homeland! I feel like soccer is a part of the bloodline at this point. Everyone says we love eggs, but soccer is definitely a close second!

  -Whitney Amoako (CGS'24, CAS'26) · Alum

• Haiti

  Staff member Isabelle (Izzy) Massé will be supporting Haiti during the World Cup.

  Haiti because that's my home country!

  -Isabelle Masse · Assistant Director, Career Advising, College of Engineering

  I am cheering on Haiti because it is the first time in almost 50 years that Haiti is in the World Cup. This is major in Haitian history, and I am grateful to be able to experience this joyous and important moment, especially with all of the tragedy that has been going on in Haiti with gang violence.

  -Leah Seche (CAS'29) · Student

  Haiti, because I'm Haitian, and Brazil because I'm a Brazilian fan!

  -Nola Leezzah Michel (SSW'29) · Student

  Haiti is playing in the World Cup!! After an absence of 52 years!!

  -Christina Pelissier · Program Administrator, African Studies Center

• Jamaica

  Jamaica: It's my heritage-my grandparents were born there. And England: I was born there!

  -Jasmine Lu (Questrom'26) · Student

• Mexico

  Miriam Rojas (GRS'27) will be supporting Mexico during the World Cup.

  As a born-and-raised Mexican, of course I'll be rooting for Mexicoooo!! Mexican football-soccer is about not giving up and feeling like a family all the way.

  -Miriam Rojas (GRS'27) · Student

  I'm cheering for Mexico (El Tri). I'm rooting for Mexico because of my roots. As a first-generation Mexican-American, it feels personal, and it's a proud way to stay connected to my family and culture. And with Mexico cohosting the 2026 World Cup, it feels like an especially important moment to show up, represent, and support. I've got a few jerseys ready, and I'm always hyped to watch the World Cup. The energy, the community, and the whole world coming together is unbeatable.

  -Anthony Mejia (SSW'27) · Student

  I'm cheering on Mexico because that's my mother land.

  -Angel Garrido (LAW'27) · Student

• Morocco

  I will be rooting for Morocco-my birth country-and the US, my homeland. Whoever wins, I am celebrating!

  -Noelle Mellouk (Wheelock'26) · Student

  Morocco! My country, my love, the thing I miss the most on the earth! We will win it in the US, games in Boston, NYC and Atlanta! Can't wait!!

  -Ayman Ben Bachir Hassani (Questrom'28) · Student

• Netherlands

  Associate Professor Jonathan Mijs will be supporting The Netherlands during the World Cup.

  I'm a DUTCHIE, meaning I will be wearing bright orange during the World Cup and cheering on my team, the Dutch Lions (The Netherlands), singing "HUP HOLLAND HUP." (Yes, the terminology is very confusing.) This World Cup will bookend my experience watching World Cups, which started in 1994 when the World Cup was first held in the US and I had to bargain with my parents to stay up late and watch the games.

  -Jonathan Mijs · Associate Professor, Sociology, College of Arts & Sciences

• New Zealand

  New Zealand, it's my home country.

  -Pippy Williams (SSW'27) · Student

• Portugal

  Staff member Daniel Martins will be supporting Portugal during the World Cup.

  Portugal! I've been a lifelong supporter of the Seleção Nacional de Portugal. Both my parents were born and raised in São Miguel, Açores-the mid-Atlantic, nine-island archipelago of Portugal. The Portuguese national team is the reason why I love football. They're a big reason why I've remained so deeply connected to my Portuguese heritage. I've cried tears of anguish and elation through the years over the Seleção and I forever will. And I'm not the only one here at BU that feels this way about them. Lots of the workers from buildings and grounds here at BU are also Portuguese-born on the islands, mainland, or have the same heritage-and they are just as passionate about the beautiful game and what the Portuguese national team means to them.

  -Daniel Marco Martins · Senior User Services Coordinator, BU Libraries

  Portugal! Because it's the legend's last World Cup tournament.

  -Thivviyan Karthikeyan (SPH'26) · Student

• Saudi Arabia

  Saudi Arabia because it's my country.

  -Samer Albalawi · Student, Center for English Language & Orientation Programs

• Scotland

  James Macdonald (LAW'26) will be supporting Scotland during the World Cup.

  Scotland! I grew up in Scotland, only moving to the US for undergrad. Now, seven years later, I can't wait to watch my home nation play in Boston, my new home! Win or lose, it will be a great break from studying for the bar!

  -James Macdonald (LAW'26) · Student

• Senegal

  Senegal!!!!!! And Haiti!!!!!!

  -Mathew Larosiliere (SPH'27) · Student

• South Africa

  Research Scientist Anneliese De Wet will be supporting South Africa during the World Cup.

  I'll be cheering for South Africa. We are the friendliest and most beautiful country and sport brings us together as a nation!

  -Anneliese De Wet · Research Scientist, Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation

• Turkey

  Rabia Unver (CGS'27) will be supporting Turkey during the World Cup.

  Turkey. I am from Turkey!

  -Rabia Unver (CGS'27) · Student

• United States

  Armaan Anthony (CAS'29) will be supporting the USA during the World Cup.

  I am cheering for the United States; I have been a part of the US Soccer program since I was five years old. Soccer is such a unifying sport, and we can use more of that in our country right now.

  -Armaan Anthony (CAS'29) · Student

  I will be cheering on the USA, donning the red, white, and blue throughout the World Cup. As someone who played soccer as a kid, in high school, and also in college, I could not be more excited that the World Cup is on home soil! When it was last in the United States in 1994, it completely changed the world's game in our country. The growth was immeasurable, and I am hoping this year's event does the same thing, as we still have a ways to go to compete with the world's best teams. Here is to hoping our boys make it past the Round of 16! COME ON, YA YANKS!

  -Jason Ryan · Manager, Competitive Sports, Fitness & Recreation Center

  United States!

  -Lucas Garcia · Student

• Uzbekistan

  Berdiyor Ibodullaev (Questrom'27) will be supporting Uzbekistan during the World Cup.

  I'll be rooting for Uzbekistan with full pride and passion. As someone from Uzbekistan, this World Cup feels especially historic. With the tournament expanding to 48 teams, there is a real possibility for nations like ours to shine on the global stage. Football is more than a sport back home-it's a source of national unity and hope. Seeing Uzbekistan compete against the world's best will be an emotional moment for millions of people. Supporting Uzbekistan is personal for me. It represents resilience, ambition, and belief in progress. Just as our national team continues striving for qualification and international recognition, I've pursued my goals across continents, pushing through challenges with determination. Of course, I'll also be watching teams like Argentina (especially if Lionel Messi makes history with a sixth World Cup appearance), but my heart belongs to Uzbekistan. Wearing the blue jersey won't just be about football-it will also be about identity, pride, and sharing my culture with the Boston University community.

  -Berdiyor Ibodullaev (Questrom'27) · Student

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2026 World Cup