“I probably hear the celebrations before I actually see the goals,” laughs dancer and choreographer Sunaima Baruah, who spends most World Cup nights shuffling between her six-month-old son’s nursery and the living room, where her husband and their friends are glued to the television. Every scream from the living room is enough to tell her that another goal has gone in. By the time she walks in, someone is already replaying it, another is arguing over the referee’s decision and Pritam, her husband, is almost certainly busy teasing whichever friend backed the losing team. Sunaima isn’t much of a football fan. Yet, she rarely misses these gatherings. “I’m there for the people more than the match,” she says. “Even if I only catch bits and pieces, it’s nice seeing everyone forget work, phones and everything else for a few hours.” For countless foot all fans across Pune, this has become the ritual of the FIFA World Cup. Homes have transformed into makebelieve stadiums where every big fixture is another for friends to reconnect, bring along a new partner or colleague, order far more food than necessary and forget, for a few hours, that work begins in the morning. The conversations rarely end with the final whistle. Instead, predictions for the next game, debates over refereeing decisions and playful taunts carry on well into the night before everyone reluctantly heads home, promising to do it all over again over the next weekend.
More than just the match
Luxury experience strategist Gaurang Lokhande is often the first one to leave. Unlike many of his friends who can stay until sunrise, he has learnt to balance his love for football with a demanding work schedule. “I know I am not young to survive on two hours of sleep anymore,” he says. “So I’ve become selective. I show up for the first two matches, enjoy the madness with everyone and then catch the remaining games through highlights before work. Germany scoring seven against Curaçao, followed by a tight competition between Japan and Netherlands, was one of those nights where staying awake felt completely worth it.” For Renil Jacob, senior data analyst, football doesn’t wait for company. Whether friends are available or not, his television is on almost every matchday. The house parties simply add another layer to an ovsession that already exists. “The football comes first for me. I’ll watch games like Spain against Uruguay or Portugal against Colombia even if I’m watching alone. But when the room is full and everyone reacts differently to every goal, the match somehow becomes even bigger. That’s what makes these nights special.”
Finding time for football
For most of these working professionals, the tournament has become an exercise in balancing passion with responsibility. Some leave early to catch a few hours of sleep before work, others rely on coffee to get through the next morning, while a handful simply accept that productivity can wait when the World Cup is in full swing. It is a routine repeated every four years, and one they willingly embrace despite the inevitable fatigue. Not everyone gathering around the television is equally invested in the football itself. Imlimern Jamir, sales professional, admits he spends less time analysing formations and more time making sure everyone has something to eat. As the regular host and a dedicated chef of his friend circle, the tournament has become an excuse to bring people together. The biggest talking point at his home this year wasn’t a favourite team winning, but the underdogs refusing to follow the script. Paraguay knocking out Germany and Morocco eliminating the Netherlands in the same night had everyone cheering, regardless of whom they originally supported. “I think everybody secretly enjoys an upset,” he says. “Football gives us the reason to meet, but nights like those give us stories we’ll keep talking about long after the tournament.” What makes these gatherings special is that no two people are watching the tournament for the same reason. Some are there for the football, others for the company, and a few simply enjoy being part of the atmosphere. Yet, when a underdog springs a surprise or a last-minute goal finds the net, the celebrations are united.
The friendships that remain
Originally from the Northeast, Pritam Baruah, HR professional, grew up dreaming of becoming a footballer. Life took him in other direction, but the World Cup still brings him back to that childhood excitement. These days, though, he has found a different role. “Everyone knows I support Brazil,” he says. “But if my friends are all backing one team, I’ll happily support the other one just to keep the trash-talk alive. Half the fun isn’t the football, it’s getting the chance to remind them about a bad prediction for the next few days.” His wife, Sunaima, smiles as she listens. With a six-month-old son demanding most of her attention, she has barely managed to sit through an entire match this tournament. Instead, she catches glimpses while putting the baby to sleep or walking into the living room between feeds. “This World Cup is very different for me,” she says. “I probably hear the celebrations before I actually see the goals. I still remember everyone going crazy when Messi scored a hat-trick in Argentina’s opening match. Even if I wasn’t watching every minute, moments like that pull you into the excitement.” The friendships, in many ways, have become just as important as the football itself. Some evenings introduce new faces into long-standing friend groups, while others become rare reunions for people whose busy schedules otherwise leave little room to meet.
Where can you watch in Pune?
With most FIFA World Cup matches kicking off well past midnight, Pune currently has very few public screenings. As per existing permissions, Aeromall remains the only venue officially screening World Cup matches. One such screening during Argentina’s clash against Austria drew curious visitors Sunanda Mishra and Arpit Thakur, who had just returned from Lucknow and stumbled upon the event as they sat down for a meal. “We didn’t know there was a screening happening here. It was a pleasant surprise,” said Sunanda, who admitted she follows football occasionally because of her admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo. Asked if she would return for another screening, she smiled and said, “If Ronaldo is playing, maybe.” Arpit, meanwhile, enjoyed the unexpected experience but kept his answer short, “Probably not.”
