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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Sports

Caracas celebrates World Cup 2026, eyes 2030 qualification

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Venezuelans gathered in public spaces in Caracas to watch the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony and first match.
  • Despite their national team's absence, fans expressed hope for qualification in 2030 and celebrated the global event.
  • The event highlighted Venezuela's multicultural identity, with fans supporting various international teams.

Caracas residents, clad in jerseys of various national teams, gathered in public spaces across the capital to watch the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup and the inaugural match between Mexico and South Africa. Despite Venezuela's national team, the Vinotinto, not participating in the tournament, a palpable sense of excitement and hope for 2030 filled the air.

If we are not going for Venezuela, unfortunately, we go for another. The important thing is to enjoy it, savor it, and celebrate it.

— Mariana SilvaA fan attending a public viewing of the World Cup opening ceremony in Caracas.

More than 100 fans of all ages convened at a plaza in eastern Caracas, decorated with international flags, to witness the event on a large screen. Mariana Silva, 41, wearing a Spanish team jersey, expressed the prevailing sentiment: "If we are not going for Venezuela, unfortunately, we go for another. The important thing is to enjoy it, savor it, and celebrate it." Many attendees exchanged World Cup sticker album cards, a daily ritual in the plaza amidst Venezuela's economic challenges, where sticker packs are a luxury.

Roger Rodríguez, 34, proudly wore his Vinotinto jersey, emphasizing Venezuela's multicultural nature. "Venezuela is multicultural, and its citizens support all teams," he told EFE, expressing confidence that the country will approach the next World Cup with "more energy and much more enthusiasm." The opening ceremony itself featured a Venezuelan touch with singer Danny Ocean performing "Partidazo" in his national team's colors, drawing applause from his compatriots.

Venezuela is multicultural, and its citizens support all teams.

— Roger RodríguezA fan discussing the diverse support for international teams in Venezuela.

Young fans like Jeremy Piñero, 21, focused on legendary players. "They are playing their last matches, and I want to make the most of them, because I don't think legends like them will come again," he said, referring to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. While acknowledging the "heartbreak" of Venezuela's elimination from qualification, Piñero stated it "doesn't extinguish the flame" of his lifelong passion for the sport. Other Caracas municipalities also set up viewing areas for the tournament's start.

They are playing their last matches, and I want to make the most of them, because I don't think legends like them will come again.

— Jeremy PiñeroA young fan expressing his excitement for the World Cup and its legendary players.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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