Beijing fans erupt for Ronaldo at World Cup watch party

Football fans from China and beyond gathered at a Beijing sports bar on July 3 to watch Portugal take on Croatia, defying time zones and braving early alarms to cheer for their teams.

The room fell silent as Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up to the spot. The whistle blew. The strike landed. The ball hit the net. Cheers erupted — different languages, one shared passion. That's the magic of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Wu Wenwen, as an intern, also contributes to this article.