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For the Casual Fan: An Atlanta World Cup Primer on Teams and Traditions

06/04/2026

BY KARL SMITH-DAVIDS

Get to know the teams that are playing in Atlanta, the customs and traditions among their fan bases, and preview the matchups. We put together this quick summary with help from the hardcore soccer enthusiasts on our staff:

Spain

La Furia Roja (The Red Fury)

Plays in Atlanta: Monday, June 15 and Sunday, June 21

Spain is a nation laden with soccer fanatics whose passion for the sport is as strong as any, but the absence of a strong away-day culture domestically means Spanish supporters are less likely to travel in big numbers. That said, the reigning European champions are one of the favorites to win the whole thing, so the truly devoted will make the trip. In the stands, expect Spanish fans to be vocal and knowledgeable -- they'll appreciate every one-touch pass and pressing sequences. Most of the red-and-yellow wave at the stadium will actually be the enormous Spanish-speaking diaspora already living here, many of whom will adopt La Roja as their team for the tournament. They will be wearing the popular home red (roja) kits for both matches in Atlanta, and hoping their young star Lamine Yamal is healthy.

Cabo Verde

Tubarões Azuis (The Blue Sharks)

Plays in Atlanta: Monday, June 15

Cabo Verde is making its World Cup debut in 2026, and is among the smallest countries by population ever to qualify. Their fanbase is a global diaspora rather than a traveling army -- large Cape Verdean communities exist in Massachusetts (especially Brockton), Rhode Island, and Portugal. Expect a contingent of wildly enthusiastic supporters draped in blue and white, treating every moment on the world stage as something sacred. They'll be vastly outnumbered, but not quiet, speaking Portuguese.

Game Odds: Spain win 84%, Draw 13%, Cabo Verde win 3%

Saudi Arabia

Al Sogour Al Akhdar (The Green Falcons)

Plays in Atlanta: Sunday, June 21

Soccer is popular in Saudi Arabia, and its following has only grown with the rise of the Saudi Pro League in recent years. So expect a solid number of fans to make the long trip. The Saudi Pro League's massive investment in global superstars has created a new generation of engaged, confident supporters who feel their nation belongs on the world stage. Those who do travel will likely be the most passionate supporters -- similar in spirit to Latin American fan bases -- with drums, loudspeakers, flutes, tifos, and constant chanting. Fans are always draped head-to-toe in green and white. The Saudi green is one of the most visually striking colors in international football, and when they pack a section together, it's a genuine spectacle. There's also a swagger that comes with history. Saudi fans remember that their team is the only nation to defeat eventual champion Argentina at the 2022 World Cup. That stunning 2-1 upset in Qatar is a badge of honor for the entire country, and it fundamentally changed how Saudi supporters see themselves: not as also-rans, but as giant-killers capable of anything on the right day. Facing Spain is a steep climb, but Saudi supporters will arrive loud, colorful, and convinced an upset is possible.

Game Odds: Spain win 81%, Draw 14%, Saudi Arabia win 5%

South Africa

Bafana Bafana – The Boys, The Boys

Plays in Atlanta: Thursday, June 18

One of the most culturally distinctive fanbases in world football. "Bafana Bafana" is a Nguni phrase that translates literally as "the boys, the boys," with its actual meaning closer to "Go boys! Go boys!" Though many interpret the double use to mean togetherness, as in the African concept of ubuntu, encompassing the team, management, and supporters all as one. Expect a wall of sound from vuvuzelas those long plastic horns that became globally iconic at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa along with drumming, dancing, and brightly colored kits. There will be fewer Bafana Bafana supporters in North America than at home, but you can still expect them to bring their instruments and generate plenty of noise.

Czechia

Nároďák (The National Team)

Plays in Atlanta: Thursday, June 18

Czech fans are the archetype of the steady Central European supporter –- knowledgeable and composed. They don't have the South American flair or African percussion, but they travel in organized groups, wear their red-and-white with pride, and create their own atmosphere. They punched above their weight at Euro 2020 (to the quarterfinals), and their fans have followed that rebuild closely. Expect a modest but passionate traveling group and don't be surprised if they outnumber the South African fans given the greater ease of travel from Europe.

Game Odds: South Africa win 20%, Draw 24%, Czechia win 56%

Morocco

Atlas Lions

Plays in Atlanta: Wednesday, June 24

This is the must-see crowd. Their supporters are ranked 6th in the world by Fox Sports based on fan engagement. They bring dynamic atmospheres to matches, turning stadiums into spaces of collective expression and national pride. After their stunning 2022 run to the semis, their fanbase expanded enormously. Moroccan fans across the Arab world packed stadiums and fan zones in Qatar, erupting into celebrations that spilled onto the streets. Their scope has been described as "a revitalization of pan-Arabism," with supporters from across the Arab and Muslim world rallying behind the Atlas Lions as a symbol of shared identity and pride. Morocco's large diaspora in the US will show up in force. Their chants draw from Moroccan ultras culture -- loud, rhythmic, and deeply musical. Anthems in Arabic like "Marroquinos, Marroquinos, Maghribi, Maghribi!" is a favorite. They are captained by world-class defender, Achraf Hakimi.

Haiti

Les Grenadiers

Plays in Atlanta: Wednesday, June 24

Haiti is a feel-good story. This is only Haiti's second World Cup appearance. The Haitian diaspora in the American South and particularly in Florida is significant and deeply proud. Haitian fans celebrate with a distinctive Caribbean flair: colorful flags, kompa rhythms, and the kind of joy that comes from simply being on the biggest stage. They will be outnumbered by Morocco's supporters, but they'll make their presence felt.

Game Odds: Morocco win 74%, Draw 17%, Haiti win 9%

Uzbekistan White Wolves v. DR Congo Leopards

Plays in Atlanta: Saturday, June 27

Uzbekistan will make their World Cup debut, while DR Congo are appearing for just the second time (and first time since 1974) when it competed under the name Zaïre. Both fanbases are small, which makes the night atmosphere of this match more intimate and unpredictable. Uzbek supporters are a newer force in global football -- energetic, proud, and growing in international presence. Congolese fans bring a French speaking African expressiveness -- drumming, singing, and a kind of communal celebration that's more party than singing. This game will be the last hope for these two underdogs to make it to the next round of 32.

Game Odds: Uzbekistan win 74%, Draw 16%, Congo win 10%