Transnational football fandom: sociocultural insights from Real Madrid fans in Pakistan

This study explores the social and cultural meanings Pakistani fans attach to their fandom of Real Madrid within a context of limited local football infrastructure. Using a constructivist qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 dedicated fans, and thematic analysis identified eight interconnected themes: symbolic capital, global belonging and local displacement, digitally mediated fandom, leisure and emotional escape, aspirational lifestyle, group inclusion, vicarious pride, and athlete admiration. The findings show that fandom operates as a resource for social distinction, identity negotiation, and moral aspiration. Drawing on Bourdieu’s concepts of capital and habitus, the study demonstrates how engagement with global football enables Pakistani fans to navigate social hierarchies, accumulate symbolic value, and perform aspirational identities, offering novel insights into fandom in Global South contexts.