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Feeling alienated for not liking soccer? You’re not alone
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Soccer euphoria: Fireworks go off around a replica of the World Cup trophy before the Group G match between Cameroon and Serbia on Nov. 28 at the Qatar World Cup 2022 at Al-Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah, south of Doha. (AFP/Issouf Sanogo) (AFP/Issouf Sanogo)
S
ome nonfans might feel like outcasts for not sharing soccer fans’ euphoria over the Qatar World Cup; others stay tuned just to keep up with the conversation, while still others simply don't care, one way or the other.
Soccer is one of the most popular sports in Indonesia, if not the most popular sport. At least 69 percent of the country’s 275 million-strong population, or almost 190 million Indonesians, loves the game. But not everyone is an avid fan.
The Jakarta Post talked to a few people who prefer to avoid the World Cup hype, even though the tournament is one of the most celebrated in the world.
Reluctant followers
Many people who aren’t fans of soccer are reluctantly following updates of the tournament, just so they can join the conversation or support their friends or family.
Bramantha Patra, a 24-year-old full stack developer in Bali, said that he has always preferred watching crime-thriller series or doing puzzles instead of sports.
“Some of my friends have called me ‘untypical’ for not loving soccer,” he said.
