This photographer is on a mission to capture fans from every single World Cup country

Twenty years ago, Toronto photographer Joseph Howarth squeezed into a packed bar where Angolan soccer fans had gathered to watch their country compete in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

“It was Angola’s first World Cup, and I got to be in the room with all the Angola fans,” said Howarth. 

“I loved it, and that sort of hooked me. I wanted to see if I could be in the room — the most exciting room in Toronto — for each of these countries.”

Howarth has been photographing the tournament’s fans ever since, capturing the highs and the heartbreak in Toronto’s crowded bars and public squares. He started the project, World Cup in Toronto, because he wanted to see if the city is as diverse as people say it is.

He’s since photographed fans of 55 different countries, all over the city every four years, convincing him that “the whole world is in Toronto.”

With some of this year’s tournament taking place in the city, Howarth is excited to photograph fans from countries he hasn’t encountered yet, including Curaçao, Cape Verde and Uzbekistan.

He also wants a very specific photograph: thousands of fans cheering on Team Canada.  

“I want that sea of red, those flags flying,” he said.

“I have always pictured that shot. I’ve never had the opportunity to photograph it.”

Howarth’s favourite fans? Croatia

Angola lost that match in 2006, and hasn’t returned to the World Cup since. But Howarth says the underdogs or the smaller countries can be the most exciting to photograph — because you’re not sure they’ll be there the next time around.

“The German fans or the French fans … they kind of know they’re going to be back next time — and they’ve already won the big one,” he said.

He says some of his favourite fans to photograph are Croatian, because of their sense of community, their enthusiastic love of soccer — even their red and white checkered jerseys.

Iranian fans also “come out in droves,” he said. “Persians love to party so that’s usually a really good crew.”

Even though watch parties can sometimes get rowdy, Howarth says fans are pretty welcoming when he shows up to take their photos, especially when they see that he’s just as excited as they are. 

His photos document the dedication behind that fandom. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar began in November, forcing Canadians to watch games in tents on bar patios, wrapped in winter coats and tuques.

Anguish, chaos and the ‘molar shot’

Howarth says there are three types of fan photos he loves the most. 

One is the “anguish photo,” in which a fan brings their hands to their face in disappointment or exasperation. Another is the “molar shot,” when someone cries out and Howarth gets a great view of their back teeth. 

The last one is something he calls “the big blur.”

“I don’t use flash when I take photos,” he explained. “So I’m oftentimes in a dark, dark bar where really the light source is from the back of the room or maybe even just the TV screens.”

When a goal is scored and the fans erupt, “it’s just a chaotic blur,” he said.

“It is, I think, the most authentically pure photo of the moment because all the chaos and energy is right there.”

Perhaps surprisingly, Howarth didn’t start the project as a soccer fan, but has grown to appreciate the sport — and particularly the people who love it.

“I’m not a huge soccer fan, but I’m a fan of fandom. I’m a fan of this city.”