There may not be as much fanfare and the teams may not all be wearing the latest Nike gear, or even wearing matching jerseys. But what they lack in sponsors and elite skills, they more than make up for in passion and camaraderie.

Football fans have earned a reputation for their passion and chaotic energy, and the Fan World Cup is as vibrant as you would expect from this colourful bunch. That is to say, the tournament is not yet fully organised and they are still on the hunt for teams and players from other nations to join in.

Co-founder of the Australian fan contingent, aptly named the Supporteroos, Petr Kuzmin is hoping to drum up interest from Aussie and international fans alike. He says the benefits of tournaments like the world cup extend far beyond the 90-minute matches.

“International tournaments are fantastic opportunities for cross-cultural encounters,” Petr said.

“Our fan friendlies allow fans from all nations to get to know each other better, socialise after the game, and potentially make long-term connections.”

The Supporteroos have hosted matches against fans from Ireland, Nigeria and Canada as they follow the Matilda’s journey through the World Cup pool stages. Their starting XI is made up players of all ages, genders and backgrounds. In one game they played a 7-year-old at striker alongside a 64-year-old as goalie.

“Anyone can play. We never had any restrictions and encouraged participation from anyone who was interested,” Petr said.

“The Supporteroos are as organic and grassroots a movement as it gets, and everything is thanks to volunteers. People help with booking pitches, finding players, making connections with international fans, putting on BBQs, and of course playing.”

It’s movements like this that provide an incredible opportunity to unite and inspire Australia through sport.

Visit the Supporteroos page to get involved and follow their journey to the 2023 Fan World Cup.