Experiencing the World Cup from Afar

Many people are not attending the World Cup in person. Despite being the largest World Cup to date, with more nations, matches, and fans than ever, most of us watch from a distance. Like many others, I follow the tournament on television as my country, Ireland, did not qualify.

While the number of spectators physically at the World Cup grows, it pales compared to those watching on screens. FIFA reports that 1.5 billion people viewed the last World Cup final in 2022. This year, the number is likely to be higher. The emphasis often falls on those attending, the fans’ support, and the vibrancy of the event, yet it remains significantly a televised affair.

Photographers capturing the World Cup from afar create unique visuals. They sit miles away, photographing TV images instead of standing on the sidelines. This approach allows them to produce distinct works. For instance, Parisian photographer Bilal Aouffen creates images by photographing screens through a bag of water, creating a unique visual effect.

Gabriel Rolim, a Brazilian artist, uses a modified Game Boy camera to capture TV shots, transforming them into animations. These animations resemble pixelated thermographic images, capturing a memory of the World Cup. Moroccan photographer Karim Ouakkaha captured a textured image of Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, depicting him in defeat with a digital blur that suggests his team’s fading hopes.

Jared Soares, from Washington, photographs matches on his TV, prints them in monochrome, crumples the paper, and scans it. The creased images add a tactile quality to scenes of fans and players experiencing highs and lows. This creativity from afar highlights how the World Cup is a spectacle not only experienced live but profoundly enjoyed through screens.