World Cup stories go beyond the pitch, from fan culture to political protests

The current World Cup, which opened last Thursday, is drawing attention not only for football but also for cultural moments, political demonstrations and landmark results. It is the largest World Cup in history, spread across three countries and featuring 48 national teams, creating an unusually wide meeting point of cultures.

In the United States, one of the host countries, sports attention has still been dominated by the NBA Finals. The New York Knicks won their first championship in 53 years, with high-profile spectators including Donald Trump, actor Timothée Chalamet and Prince Harry. That has overshadowed even the United States' 4-1 victory over Paraguay, though the end of the NBA Finals may now give the tournament more local attention.

Japan's opening match ended in a draw against the Netherlands, but Japanese fans drew praise for staying in the stands long after the final whistle and helping cleaners tidy the entire seating area. Asked why they did it, one fan said,