Passion and pride on show at alternative World Football Cup

With drums thundering and flags swirling, fans at the 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup revelled in the rare chance to see their often-disputed homelands take their place on the international stage.

The tournament, being contested in London by 16 sovereign nations, partially-recognised states, minorites and peoples outside the auspices of football's official governing body FIFA, got off to a raucous start Thursday.

Fans of Tibet and Abkhazia streamed to the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium in north London.

It may have a majestic name, but the 3,000-capacity 1950s athletics ground on Donkey Lane, the home of seventh-tier club Enfield Town, epitomises semi-professional English football -- with a burger stand, an ice cream van and a tiny club shop selling programmes through a hatch.

However, for the 300-odd fans who turned up, it was the biggest sporting stage they could hope to see their homelands on.

- Hopes for recognition -
=========================
"We are a normal country. The only difference is recognition."
"If we lose, its OK: at least Tibet is out here."
- Cattle battle -
=================
"I think we can do better in the next game. The boys are very spirited for the sake of our country."