Not everyone is lucky enough to have a team to support at the World Cup this summer. Only 32 of Fifa’s 211 members are off to Russia, with the five most populated countries in the world – China, India, USA, Indonesia and Pakistan – all missing out. Fans from right across the globe will be picking alternative teams to follow so, with this in mind, we’d like to know who you will be cheering for and against.
If you’re looking for a team to support, the two newbies, Panama and Iceland, are natural choices. They are very different places but both are exotic in their own ways: did you know that Iceland has no forests whereas Panama is the only county in the world to have a rainforest within the city limits of its capital?
Egypt, Senegal or Brazil may be a natural fit for Liverpool fans. Peru, one of the 13 countries who took part in the first World Cup in 1930, would welcome your support after 36 years of missing out on the finals. They have underdog status but you may be put off by their love of eating whole guinea pigs, head, claws and all. If you’re a glory hunter, you should go for bookies’ favourites Brazil, reigning champions Germany or 2010 champions Spain, who thrashed Argentina 6-1 earlier this year. If you’re a glutton for punishment, England will be there for you until the last-16 stage.
We’d also like to know who you are cheering against. Perhaps you’re a Northern Ireland fan who can’t bear the thought of Switzerland succeeding after what happened to your team in the play-offs. Maybe you’re a Netherlands fan who is concerned Germany could win a fifth World Cup while your players are on the beach.
Whatever your reasons – whether sporting, socio-political or pure schadenfreude – let us know your thoughts in the form below. We’d also love to hear your views expressed on video – in landscape please. You can upload short films on the form below or send them to us by email at social.stories@guardian.co.uk. If that doesn’t suit, just use the form. We will feature a range of your views on our website and social channels. Enjoy the football.
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