In Malappuram, Argentina-Brazil fan rivalry is measured in feet, not goals

Records alone are not enough for Argentina and Brazil fans in Malappuram. Their passion as well as rivalry has turned flex boards into a contest of its own, with displays stretching from dozens to hundreds of feet and setting new benchmarks in FIFA World Cup fandom.

When Argentina supporters of Jas Munda Club at Edakkara near Nilambur unveiled a horseshoe-shaped flex board measuring 602 feet on Thursday morning, it seemed an unbeatable feat. Many believed their Brazil-supporting rivals from the same club would struggle to surpass it.

They were wrong. The Brazil camp soon began work on a flex board exceeding 700 feet, adding another 300 feet to the 400-foot display they had already erected.

“There is none to beat Brazil, either in spirit or in the game,” said Navas N.K., a young Jas Munda Club member. “With the FIFA World Cup kicking off tonight, we do not expect the Argentina fans to extend their 602-foot flex any further.”

For Brazil fans at Edakkara, the challenge came from close to home. For Argentina supporters, inspiration came from a 182-foot flex board put up by fans at Kongad, Palakkad.

“There is no going back when it comes to football passion and World Cup spirit,” said Naseeb T.M., a diehard Argentina supporter and Jas Munda Club member. “That spirit drove us to put up the 602-foot flex at Munda.”

The rivalry extends beyond size to spending. Argentina fans invested around ₹1.75 lakh in their 602-foot display, while Brazil supporters spent nearly ₹2.2 lakh on their 700-plus-foot structure.

Both installations stand along Kozhikode-Ooty road. The Argentina flex rises around 25 feet from the roadside, while the Brazil display is positioned even closer to passing traffic.

The club’s football loyalties are not confined to the two South American giants. Members who support Portugal and Croatia have erected a 60-foot cutout of Cristiano Ronaldo and a 20-foot Croatia flex board.

“We will not be intimidated by Brazil’s record,” said Mr. Naseeb. “We are already planning a 70-foot cutout of Lionel Messi.”

The towering displays have turned Munda into a football pilgrimage of sorts. Visitors arrive to photograph the flex boards, shoot videos, take selfies, and record interviews with club members for social media reels.

As the World Cup fever intensifies, those reels are carrying the story of Jas Munda Club and its extraordinary football rivalry far beyond Malappuram.