For the love of the game: Fans watch the World Cup around the globe - in pictures

From street corners in Gaza to stadiums in Dhaka, followers of the beautiful game find a way to support their teams

Iran fans on tenterhooks at Shiroodi stadium as they watch their team's match against the US on TV. Reuters

Palestinians on the streets of Gaza City watch a live broadcast of South Korea v Ghana. AP Photo

Senegal fans try to get the best view as they watch their team take on Ecuador, from a fan zone in Dakar. AP Photo

Fans in Dhaka, Bangladesh, take in the action on a big screen as Brazil play Switzerland. AFP

A phone allows this fan to watch Tunisia v France outside the Education City Stadium in Qatar. Reuters

Carlos Junior, centre, is deaf and blind but his friends in Sao Paulo state give him a blow-by-blow account of Brazil v Switzerland. AP Photo

Uruguay fans watch the match between Portugal and their team on a big screen in Montevideo. Reuters

Fans see Brazil take on Switzerland on screens near the museum of the Future in Dubai. AFP

High emotion in Seoul, South Korea, as fans watch their team play Ghana. AP Photo

A TV fixed to a lamppost allows fans in Manaus to watch Brazil's match against Serbia. EPA

An electrical shop worker in Doha finds time to see Poland v Argentina. Reuters

A queue to watch the World Cup at an electronics shop in Sanaa, Yemen. Reuters

Mothers and children watch Brazil v Switzerland at a club run by a Sudanese women's rights group in Khartoum. Reuters

At a cafe in Baghdad, Iraqi fans watch Iran play the USA. EPA

The homeless in Sao Paulo see Brazil take on Switzerland on TV. AFP

Israeli customers watch Iran play the US, at a restaurant near Tel Aviv. Most are Jews of Iranian descent and some held posters in solidarity with protesters in Iran. AP Photo

Iranians in Mumbai watch Iran v USA. EPA

Lebanese fans of Iran smoke water pipes as they watch the game against the USA at a Beirut coffee shop in a Hezbollah stronghold. AP Photo

Yemeni fans paid to get into this hall in Sanaa to see Saudi Arabia v Poland. EPA

Football really is the world's game.

Many nations never realistically have a chance to take part in the World Cup finals every four years. Despite that, football fans from cricketing giants such as India and Bangladesh follow the action with as much passion as those in Europe - and in their tens of thousands.

And for every fan from football-mad countries in South America, there's someone tuning in and cheering on their favourite player or nation from the Mena region, South East Asia and beyond.

Take a look at the gallery above of supporters glued to their screens during the World Cup.

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