Dr. Lou Antolihao
Senior Lecturer of Sociology at the National University of Singapore, where he teaches courses on sports studies, senses and society, and the sociology of the body. He has published on sports and postcolonialism, sports fandom, and football betting.
Email: lou.antolihao@nus.edu.sg
Luis Necias P. Antolihao
Former U10 academy player for Real Madrid Singapore and a graduating high school student at Singapore American School (SAS).
Email: antolihao791694@sas.edu.sg
Across the globe, the watch party became a popular way to experience the 2026 World Cup matches. The celebrations allow fans to experience some of the elements that football spectatorship is known for – wearing jerseys, team chants, and riding the emotional roller coaster that goes with the flow of the game. In Singapore, watch parties were organized in bars, dining spots, mall atriums, community centers, and even in a few places of worship. The predominantly European league-oriented fans, the presence of a large and diverse expatriate population, and other social factors such as wee-hours screenings, alcohol consumption rules, and food culture shaped the watch parties. In turn, these fan events show the impact of the recent World Cup and the larger cultural significance of sports in Singapore.
Singapore had a strong local football fandom, driven by the participation of its national team, the Lions, in Malaysian football tournaments. This arrangement started long before the country’s independence in 1965, when the city-state was part of British Malaya, and later of the postcolonial state of Malaysia. With 24 championships, Singapore was one of the most successful clubs in the Malaysia Cup, and its rivalry with teams from the Malaysian states of Pahang and Selangor sparked a strong following among local football fans. In 1997, Singapore decided to break away from the Malaysian league to form its own. While the move was heralded for responding to the call for the small city-state to have its own professional league, it also led to the fragmentation of local football fans into smaller groups to support their “neighborhood” teams. Most of these local teams struggled to sustain themselves, so attracting the interest of fans was even more challenging. Around the same time, the emergence of satellite technology allowed for regular live broadcasts of the English Premier League and other European tournaments. As a result, the local football fandom shifted towards a more international outlook since the turn of the 21st century. This football scene makes the World Cup a much-awaited event in Singapore.
As a global financial hub, Singapore has attracted immigrants and expatriate workers from around the world. Foreigners from over 150 countries comprise around 40% of Singapore’s 6.11 million population. The most well-attended 2026 World Cup watch parties were those organized by consular offices and expat groups. The Embassy of Mexico, representing one of the mega-event’s co-hosts, organized a jam-packed World Cup opening party which featured a mariachi band and other cultural performances. The Korean Association, the British Club, and the Spanish Association were among those that organized a watch party throughout the month-long tournament. Even the Jordanian community organized a smaller but well-prepared celebration with traditional food and a booth distributing tourist brochures and Dead Sea salt skin products.
The time difference between Singapore and World Cup venues across North America means that most of the games are screened between 3:00 and 12:00 am, with key fixtures such as the opening Mexico vs South Africa match and the finals between Argentina and Spain, both held in the wee hours. It means that those who attended were mostly avid fans or were driven by the World Cup hysteria. Many shared that joined the watch parties just to see what’s going on and experience the hype surrounding the major sports event.
CHIJMES, a historic dining complex that used to house a convent, stood as the most popular among the many watch party venues in Singapore. Its ample outdoor space, sponsored activities, and location in the middle of downtown made it a popular option, especially for the expat crowd who live around the fringes of the city center. CHIJMES was also one of the few venues that received an exemption from the government regulation banning the sale of alcoholic drinks after 10:30 pm. However, the prohibition against the sale and consumption of alcohol between 3-6 am was still imposed, even during the watch parties. This law differs from practices in other countries, particularly those in Europe and North America, where beer and other alcoholic drinks are an important part of football fan culture. Food, however, remained an integral part of the watch parties. From late-night durian snacks to early-morning kaya toast breakfast, the local food culture adds to the distinctive flavor of the watch parties in Singapore. This is more evident in the World Cup screenings in Lau Pa Sat, the country’s historic hawker food center, where some stalls are 24 hours, providing another reason to join the watch parties.
Despite these distinct elements, the World Cup watch parties in Singapore were driven by the same force that made them popular in other parts of the world. They provide a space to define boundaries, forge alliances, and explore a new way of expressing one’s identity. Finally, those who joined the World Cup watch parties in Singapore clearly came for a “cosmopolitan kick” – a collective outburst that momentarily binds local fans to their favorite overseas football teams, reconnects expatriates to their faraway home, and offers a sense of coherence to the differing state, corporate, and sports imaginaries.
