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North Kerala’s Malabar region these past few days might have made an easy pass as the host of the 2018 FIFA World Cup for those not in the know. The tournament is being held in Russia but the sort of frenzy on display here would say otherwise. The Nipah viral outbreak had put a damper on spirits but football fever is back in full force. Houses have taken on the colours of their residents’ favourite teams, flags festoon marketplaces filled with merchandise and some fans have even taken up the names of their favourite footballers for the month long duration of the Word Cup.