Let the football fever begin

PETALING JAYA: For true football lovers, the World Cup is never just another tournament on the calendar.

For businessman Abdul Rashid Shangkotti, 60, it is about passion, hope and unwavering loyalty –almost like a love story.

Hailing from Tanjung Malim, Perak, he said he lived the dream when he was able to see Brazil live at the 2018 World Cup in Spartak Stadium, Russia.

“Watching Brazil play in front of my own eyes with my closest friends beside me was one of the happiest moments of my life.

“That was when I realised football is not just a game. It creates memories that stay with you forever,” he said.

Like every devoted supporter, his journey has also been marked by heartbreak, such as Brazil’s painful quarter-final exits in 2018 against Belgium, and in 2022 against Croatia, as well as the crushing 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany on home soil in 2014.

He said his admiration for Brazil was shaped by legends like Pele and Ronaldo Nazario, players who made him believe that football could be both art and identity.

“Brazilian football is beautiful because it is played with soul. You do not just watch it for the result, you watch it because it moves you,” he said, adding that he has yet to decide whether to travel to watch the 2026 World Cup this year due to the cost and age.

Jointly hosted by 16 cities – 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada, this will be the first World Cup to be hosted by three nations, and the first to include 48 teams, up from 32.

Meanwhile, for national women’s football striker Intan Serah, the dream of seeing Portugal crowned world champions is deeply personal, when hope tied as much to football as it is to the final chapter of her own idol’s storied journey.

The 27-year-old, whose full name is Intan Sarah Anisah Zulgafli, said this World Cup may very well be the last time she gets to watch Cristiano Ronaldo chase the one trophy that has eluded him.

“Ronaldo has never lifted the World Cup in his five previous appearances, so for me, this would be the sweetest possible ending to his career,” she said of this possibility of witnessing a fairy tale unfold before the curtain falls on a player who shaped her love for the game.

“With the squad they have now, Portugal are among the best candidates to become champions, especially with Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes leading the charge.”

While many fans are already planning flights to the United States, she is still undecided about travelling to watch Portugal’s Group K matches.

The upcoming Women’s National League and the AFF Women’s Cup 2026 in Kuala Lumpur this July means she must focus on rehabilitation and fighting her way back onto the field.

“The schedule is tight because I’ll be involved in the league and the AFF Women’s Cup.

“Right now my preparation is more towards recovery for my comeback,” she said, adding that watching television will have to suffice if the trip does not materialise.

“This reflects both my devotion to the game and my enduring admiration for Ronaldo’s final dance.”

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