World Cup Stirs Up National Pride Across the World

A woman cleans a glass cabinet with a baby Jesus statue dressed in a version of the national soccer team jersey at a church in Mexico City on June 12, 2014.
A woman cleans a glass cabinet with a baby Jesus statue dressed in a version of the national soccer team jersey at a church in Mexico City on June 12, 2014.Tomas Bravo—Reuters
The upper sphere of the Atomium in Brussels is wrapped with the Belgian colors to support the Belgian national soccer team at the World Cup soccer in Brazil on June 13, 2014.
The upper sphere of the Atomium in Brussels is wrapped with the Belgian colors to support the Belgian national soccer team at the World Cup soccer in Brazil on June 13, 2014. Geert Vanden Wijngaert—AP
Germany feature FIFA World Cup 2014
A house and a car in Maubach, Germany on June 12, 2014.Sebastian Kahnert—EPA
A fan of Argentina looks out from his local soccer club decorated with pictures of Argentin soccer players ahead of the 2014 World Cup, in Kolkata on June 10, 2014.
A fan of Argentina looks out from his local soccer club decorated with pictures of Argentin soccer players ahead of the 2014 World Cup, in Kolkata on June 10, 2014. Rupak De Chowdhuri—Reuters
The Karl Marx monument has been decorated with German flags painted on his cheeks in Chemnitz, Germany on June 16, 2014.
The Karl Marx monument has been decorated with German flags painted on his cheeks in Chemnitz, Germany on June 16, 2014. Jan Woitas—EPA
Feature
An aerial view of orange tents for Dutch soccer fans on the pitch at the Feyenoord Stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands on June 13, 2014. Paul Raats—EPA
FBL-WC-2014-BRA-FANS
A Brazilian supporter poses for a picture before the start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil vs Mexico match at the FIFA Fan Fest public viewing event in Sao Paulo on June 17, 2014. Miguel Schincariol—AFP/Getty Images

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com