Lyari's World Cup tradition falls victim to loadshedding, inflation
Lyari has long been known as Pakistan's "Mini Brazil" – a neighbourhood where football is not merely a sport but a way of life, a ritual that transforms its narrow streets into open-air stadiums every four years when the FIFA World Cup arrives. But this year, those streets are falling silent as Pakistan grapples with crippling loadshedding and record-high petrol prices exceeding Rs 299 per litre, reducing a cherished tradition to a distant memory.
For decades, residents set up massive screens in almost every alley, turning the entire neighbourhood into a sprawling public viewing arena. Walls burst with murals of football legends, flags fluttered above crowded lanes, and communities gathered under string lights to cheer late into the night. Local artists and organisers decorated the area through collective effort – some bringing paint, others contributing panaflex posters. "It is all a shared effort," said Mohammad Baloch, a resident of Ali Mohalla who helped organise the neighbourhood's World Cup decorations.
But this year, scheduled loadshedding lasting up to 10 hours daily made it impossible to power the screens. With petrol at a record Rs 299.50 per litre, running a generator for a single match consumes fuel that could feed a family for a day. The streets that once buzzed with energy fell quiet during match timings, with residents confined to their homes, watching on small mobile screens or not at all. "Football has always been deeply connected to our identity," said one resident. "We love it because it is more than a sport – it is a festival and a passion that runs in our blood."
The government did step in. The Pakistan Peoples Party installed a giant screen at the Lyari International Football Ground – a gesture PPP leader Nabeel Gabol described as a "gift" for Lyari. On July 6, hundreds gathered at the venue to watch Brazil face Norway. Despite Brazil's loss, the atmosphere remained electric as fans celebrated the game of football with the beat of drums, refusing to let the result dampen their spirit. However, residents say the stadium setup remains a poor substitute for the hyper-local, neighbourhood-level festival that once made Lyari's World Cup unique – lacking the intimacy and organic energy of community gatherings in their own alleys.
Yet Lyari's spirit remains unbroken. The community continues to support Brazil with undiminished passion, proving that football endures even when the infrastructure to celebrate it crumbles. The vibrancy they once enjoyed during the World Cup may have faded due to inflation, unemployment, and load-shedding, but their love for the game – and their ability to turn any gathering into a celebration – remains as strong as ever.