It is half past seven in the evening. A group of youngsters from Barton Hill Colony near Law College Junction, who call themselves the Barton Hill Boys, inch towards the flagpole. There is no time to waste. Some are stringing up lights, others are erecting flex boards around towering hoardings of Argentine legend Lionel Messi kissing the World Cup trophy and billboards awash in Brazil’s trademark yellow, featuring Neymar Jr and company.

The FIFA World Cup is here, and football fans in Thiruvananthapuram are riding the wave.

From flex wars and oversized banners to local tournaments and World Cup quizzes, the State capital is firmly in the grip of football fever as the tournament kicks off at Mexico City Stadium on June 12. Fans are organising public screenings to watch the action unfold live from the quadrennial tournament hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Prediction contests have also sprung up across the Technopark corridor.

“It is a festival for us and our families. From mothers who contribute money for flex boards to youngsters who wake up early to watch matches at screenings, everyone is involved,” says Vinayan VS, administrator of the Barton Hill Boys Instagram page. “We have spent more than ₹3 lakh on the cut-outs alone.”

His commitment runs deeper. “I resigned from my bank job last month and plan to take up my next role only after the tournament ends. I want to watch every game this year, even if it means sleepless nights.”

“For us, the love for football came from playing with the elder boys in our locality,” says Akash AG, a physical education trainer and footballer.

Nowhere is the World Cup frenzy more visible than in Thiruvananthapuram’s coastal belt — Vizhinjam, Kovalam, Poovar, Shanghumugham, Valiyathura, Cheriyathura, Vettucaud and Poonthura — regions that have produced several State and national-level footballers such as Seesan Selvan, Joby Justin and Sylvester Ignatius, among others.

Coastal carnival

“This year brings back the tradition of waking up early to watch World Cup matches,” says Ebin Rose, founder and head coach of Kovalam Football Club. “Unlike the last edition in Qatar, which was largely an evening affair, this one means brewing tea before sunrise and watching football. Fans here are used to time-zone differences, and it creates a completely different atmosphere.”

Cleofas Alex, founder of Alexis Sports and Education Foundation and coach of Malappuram Football Club, says the academy’s three centres in the coastal belt will host an internal World Cup tournament across six categories once the league stage concludes.

He points out that football plays a crucial role in shaping young lives in fishing communities. “Football and fishing are all many of these hamlets have. Often, the outside world knows these places because of the sport.”

Aron Thomas, 16, an ardent supporter of Messi and Argentina, is already preparing for early mornings in front of the television.

“It was the chettanmar (elder brothers) in our locality who drew us to the sport. The memories of the last final — Argentina taking the lead, France fighting back and Emiliano Martínez’s saves — are still fresh in my mind,” says Aron, who plays as a central midfielder for the PK Sathyanesan Higher Secondary School team.

Ajith Shanghumugham, a digital creator and marine conservationist, believes the celebrations will only intensify once the tournament begins. “The city and its youngsters love football so much that children celebrate birthdays in front of flex boards dedicated to their favourite players,” he says.

Not everyone, however, feels the fervour is what it once was.

“It is mostly those born in the 1990s who are keeping these traditions alive. The younger generation seems happier staying at home,” says San Jose, an autorickshaw driver from Barton Hill Colony.

Fans are also emotional about what could be the final World Cup appearances of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Just thinking about their retirement makes us sad,” says Vinayan. “We don’t even know whose cut-outs we will put up at the next World Cup.”

Despite being an Argentina fan, Cleofas says he would love to see Ronaldo lift the trophy. “He is impossible to ignore in any conversation about football. It would be a fitting farewell.”

Ebin, who is also an educator, sees the tournament as a passing of the torch. “Our students are still divided between Messi and Ronaldo. But this could be the World Cup where the next global superstar emerges.”