World Cup fever: exploring Kerala football fans’ loyalty to the Spanish national team

As the world awaits its first joint North American World Cup in 2026, the tournament’s global spectacle strengthens fans’ emotional bonds with their teams. This study analyses Kerala football fans’ loyalty to the Spanish National Team. Kerala is an Indian state with a passionate football culture. We investigate how different cultural and sporting contexts influence football fans’ devotion. The study takes a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys with Indian fans and a focus group with the board of directors of Spanish Football Fans Kerala (SFFK), a registered organization under the Kerala Government. This study concludes that team performance and historical legacy are the main reasons why Kerala supporters support the Spanish National Football Team. Younger fans are crucial for future fan engagement tactics since they exhibit higher levels of involvement and emotional attachment. The results also highlight how important digital platforms are for building fan loyalty and improving international engagement.