World Cup brings fans joy, torment and lifelong memories

July 10 : For four weeks, fans young and old have painted their faces, donned their national colours, roared their support in stadiums and fan zones and ridden the wave of emotions only a World Cup can bring. But this one has been bigger than ever before, bringing more teams and supporters to the mix, and pitting them in nail-biting encounters that have created new heroes and fresh milestones for well-loved stars. 

Welcome to the World Cup as experienced through its most devoted fans.

SHOW YOUR TRUE COLOURS     

In stadiums across the United States, Canada and Mexico the energy and excitement of fans conjured carnival-like atmospheres and brought swathes of vivid colour to host cities: the orange of the Dutch and Ivory Coast, the green of Mexico, the blue of Japan and Curaçao, and the yellow of Brazil and Ecuador.

At home, those who couldn't be there in person followed the action on massive open-air screens and at watch parties, clutching flags to their faces when it all got too much. Their eyes say it all. Children and adults alike cheered wildly, or needed to be consoled. 

No matter if your team wasn't competing. India has never played in a World Cup, but in Kolkata, the hub of Indian soccer, locals transformed a lane into a dazzling 'FIFA Gully', celebrating Argentina's Lionel Messi, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazil's Neymar.

SHARING TRADITIONS WITH THE HOSTS

In Miami, Argentines set up an "asado" — meat slowly roasted over a wood fire. In Sam Navarro's picture, a hunk of beef mirrors the shape of the World Cup trophy held aloft by Messi on the banner behind.

Swedish fans in Texas couldn't go without their traditional Midsummer festivities, so celebrated in a pool, though without a maypole.

Scotland fans arrived in