2026 World Cup: A House in Asia Adorned in the Albiceleste Stripes

A Vietnam News Agency reporter in Indonesia noted that on the balcony of his blue-and-white painted home, Muhammad Yusuf rocked to upbeat tunes while raising a model of the World Cup trophy. Down below, hundreds of villagers wearing Argentina shirts marched along the street.

To this 54-year-old, the World Cup is more than a soccer competition. It represents a romance that has lasted over forty years with the Argentina squad.

From afar, Yusuf's two-story wooden home is conspicuous among the residential area for its trademark Argentine white and blue. He has painted not just the walls but also the fence, the stones in the yard, and even his house slippers in those hues. "I've been a fan of Argentina since Maradona. Now we've got Messi," he shared with reporters.

Inside, every room features pictures of Lionel Messi and Argentine shirts displayed like precious relics.

In the yard, the Argentine flag flutters from high poles. The centerpiece is a huge model of the World Cup trophy, attracting visitors from surrounding villages who stop by for pictures.

Yusuf's devotion to Argentina's captain extends beyond mere admiration. His three-year-old grandnephew is named Muhammad Messi. The child was born precisely on the day Argentina defeated Mexico in the 2022 World Cup group stage – the same tournament where Messi finally realized his dream of becoming world champion.

Yusuf's tale went viral across Indonesian social media back then. He had vowed to trek six kilometers from his house to a nearby village to see his newborn grandnephew if Argentina claimed the World Cup title. As soon as Messi hoisted the golden cup in Qatar, Yusuf hit the road.

Indonesia ranks among the most fervent nations for football. However, their national team has only qualified for the World Cup once, in 1938 as the Dutch East Indies. In that edition, they were defeated 6-0 by Hungary in the round of 16.

Indonesia's hopes of making it back to the World Cup were dashed once more when they were knocked out in the 2026 qualifiers. This might explain why many local supporters have transferred their enthusiasm to Argentina. Now 39, Messi's appearance in the 2026 World Cup is probably his final one at the planet's biggest soccer event.

For Yusuf, that is precisely what makes this year's competition more extraordinary than any before. He vows to follow every single Argentina game. "I hope Messi can become a world champion once more in 2026," he stated.