As FIFA World Cup 2026 nears its climax, excitement buzzes at Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram. Local companies are diving into the tournament with flair. Semifinals set for July 15 and 16. The IT hub is a football fest.
Employees from firms decked out their offices with team flags and life-size cut-outs of football icons. Companies like Allianz Services,UST,and IBS Software are leading the charge with Jersey Day, penalty shootouts, and prediction contests .
On Jersey Day,employees wore their teams' colors, with UST showing off impressive decorations. Cut-outs of stars like Lionel Messi,Cristiano Ronaldo,and Kylian Mbappé dotted the campus. Jasim Ahamed, a pro freestyler, wowed crowd with his skills.
At IBS Software,celebrations kicked off with a photo booth filled with flags and a World Cup trophy replica. Employees snapped selfies for internal social media, competing for most popular post prizes. A penalty shootout had participants aiming from 15 feet,with gift vouchers on the line .
July 14 saw a football quiz in the café. Teams named after nations like Argentina,France,and Portugal battled it out,backed by cheering squads. Money went into props, boosting competitive spirit. Smitha Devaraj from IBS noted the quiz's buzz.
Prathidhwani,an employee group,hosted a fans' tournament with teams like Argentina and Brazil. Rajith VP explained how team coordination was managed Brazil won Sevens match, taking home the trophy.
Looking ahead, Prathidhwani plans its annual Sevens tournament starting July 30,aiming to top last year's 101 teams . A new Fives tournament for women's teams is also planned.
Live screenings of the semifinals and finals will hit Technopark Amphitheatre . Previous screenings pulled big crowds, rain or shine. Rajith recalled the electric atmosphere, saying, “The vibe was unbelievable.”
Excitement spills beyond work . Vinodh Mohanan turned his car into a Cristiano Ronaldo shrine, much to the delight of his kids, Anamika and Arnav. Despite Portugal's exit,Vinodh's admiration for Ronaldo remains unwavering,like a fan's love for a favorite actor.
As tournament rolls on,Technopark keeps the community spirit alive,uniting football fans in their shared passion .
