‘Your life depends on whether Argentina wins’: Buenos Aires at fever pitch as Messi’s team face France

In the capital, where Maradona is worshipped as a god, World Cup victory would take on a spiritual dimension

In June, Tomas Kuklis visited family in his native Argentina from his home in New York. When conversation turned to the upcoming World Cup, it brought back the happiest memories of his childhood. He was rocked by a wave of nostalgia for friends and food, but especially for his lifelong passion: football.

So, he took a bold decision: he would sell all his things and move back to Buenos Aires to watch the tournament. It was a choice some might consider radical. But in this South American country where football is arguably a spiritual experience, it felt like keeping the faith.