How the world watched the World Cup: From rebels in bombed-out Syria to astronauts in space – proof we are all the same when football’s on the telly




It kicked off last night with a match between the hosts Brazil and plucky little Croatia. The world was shocked when Marcelo’s own goal gave the Europeans an early lead but a dodgy penalty and poor refereeing led to Brazil running out 3-1 winners.

From outer space to Syrian rebels and brave Kenyans, it seems the world (and those outside of it) cannot get enough of the World Cup.

Astronauts on the international space station stopped their experiments to watch the game, Syrian militants in Aleppo put down their guns and the more stable inmates of the Asuncion Psychiatric Hospital in Asuncion, Paraguay, were allowed to watch the World Cup opener on an old television set although they had to stay behind bars and were not allowed too near the set.

The homeless in suburbs of Rio de Janeiro gathered outside shops to view the game on the owner's telly while in Nairobi, Kenya fans gathered to watch despite a threat from despite the fears and warnings of possible attacks on the World Cup public screenings by Somalia's al-Shabab Islamist terrorists.

The Germans watched the match in some style while sitting on settees in the 1.FC Union stadium in Berlin.

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Out of this world: The sport may not be that popular in America but it seems Americans in outer space cannot get enough of football. United States astronauts Steve Swanson (left), Reid Wiseman (right), and German astronaut Alexander Gerst (centre), kick around a ball some 230 miles above Earth aboard the International Space Station

The more stable patients of the Asuncion Psychiatric Hospital in Asuncion Paraguay are allowed to watch the World Cup opener on an old television set