The World Cup is a global phenomenon, with almost the entire world paying attention to the beautiful game at some point over the month-long tournament. This is especially true on social media — the last World Cup final set a record for tweets per minute. So if you want to get involved, you need to know what Twitter handles to follow for the World Cup.
Fortunately for you, we’ve compiled a list of 18 Twitter feeds you must follow this summer — and, just as importantly, five to avoid like a Joachim Low finger.
Now we may be a bit biased on these first four, but we’ve also included a solid collection of media personalities and former athletes. As for the five not to follow, you’ll be happy you blocked them at the end of the summer.
Twitter Handles To Follow For The World Cup
The18 @the18com
You can go ahead and unfollow all other soccer Twitter handles and just pay attention to us. It’s the best soccer Twitter handle in the world — totally unbiased opinion.
#WorldCup squad market values pic.twitter.com/SlC2B3Mtco
— The18 (@the18com) June 5, 2018
Connor Fleming @ConmanFleming
If nothing else, follow for the obscure/random FIFA 18 tweets.
Highlights from England-Belgium (Sound ) pic.twitter.com/DoRudLthHL
— Conman Fleming (@ConmanFleming) June 6, 2018
Bryce Badwan @BBadss
The real reason to follow Bryce is to ogle his sleeveless profile pic.
What a rip by Cristiano pic.twitter.com/ufIMTyB2P2
— Bryce Badwan (@BBadss) April 25, 2018
Travis Yoesting @TravisYoesting
You may have to put up with a few cat photos and @Whataburger retweets, but this guy is the smartest person on the internet bar none. At least that’s what my mom says.
So @FOXSoccer wants Americans to jump on the bandwagon to root for @miseleccionmxEN and watch @FS1 this summer but inexplicably bump Mexico-Scotland from FS1 to FS2 for no good reason.
— Travis Yoesting (@TravisYoesting) June 3, 2018
FIFA World Cup @FIFAWorldCup
It can’t hurt to follow the official Twitter feed of the dang tournament.
Here they are
The official 23-man squads for Russia 2018
https://t.co/akJKQsKEMl pic.twitter.com/4WtYbYtN00— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 4, 2018
Telemundo Sports @TelemundoSports
More so than Fox, the place to go for World Cup TV coverage.
¡Los clubes con más mundialistas! Estos son los equipos a nivel de club que llevan a más jugadores al #MundialTelemundo. pic.twitter.com/1spVcBMTux
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 6, 2018
Mexican National Team @miseleccionmxEN
Keep up to date with everything El Tri. At least until they crash out in the Round of 16.
Men in Blazers @MenInBlazers
If you don’t love the Men In Blazers, you probably don’t have a soul. Follow Roger Bennett while you’re at it too.
Dads. They're like mums. Only less useful. But they still deserve something. ENCYCLOPEDIA BLAZERTANNICA, the Carabao Cup of books. PURCHASE HERE: https://t.co/fvFwngwfTr
Send us photos of your favorite dad with the book using #MiBFathersDay. pic.twitter.com/6E9QTq22RU— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) June 6, 2018
Grant Wahl @GrantWahl
This guy is everywhere in U.S. soccer media, including Sports Illustrated and Fox. And apparently Instagram now too.
If you're interested in following, I'll be posting on Instagram from Russia during the World Cup at https://t.co/nGGcKyFBEr
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) June 5, 2018
Rachel Bonnetta @RachelBonnetta
Chicken and Waffles and Pulisic lover.
Christian Pulisic sat down with @RachelBonnetta at LA's famous Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles to talk about his season with Dortmund and much more.
Watch Pulisic & Co. take on LAFC tonight, 10pm ET on FS1! pic.twitter.com/jdUdipZ6W3— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 22, 2018
Zack Goldman @ThatDamnYank
Co-founder of Common Goal and well, he bought this dope wind breaker.
it’s here pic.twitter.com/x8vNe5cY0t
— Zack Goldman (@ThatDamnYank) June 5, 2018
Brooks Peck @BrooksDT
This guy works at TheAthletic and Dirty Tackle and is a standup bloke.
Those photos of Messi with the goats have nothing on his Esquire shoot circa 2013. pic.twitter.com/5MYFXpeEKv
— Brooks Peck (@BrooksDT) June 4, 2018
AS Roma English @ASRomaEn
Probably the best club Twitter feed in the world. It's goofy, funny and weird in all the right ways.
One of the greatest speeches in film history... pic.twitter.com/sme2MkM7g3
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) June 6, 2018
Nigeria Super Eagles @NGSuperEagles
You just need every opportunity to look at their jerseys.
Coach Gernot Rohr.
“This game shows we still have a lot of work to do to be ready for the World Cup. We have to make the best use of the 2 weeks left before our first game in Russia. It’s time to focus..no distractions.”#SoarSuperEagles #Team9jaStrong. pic.twitter.com/vubxa6qOCs— Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) June 2, 2018
Across The Pond Radio @ATPRadio
TYRONE BIGGUMS AND SOCCER?! YES PLEASE.
FEED ME pic.twitter.com/pRdZD9Wxur
— Across the Pond (@ATPradio) June 2, 2018
Arlo White @ArloWhite
Your favorite voice to listen to every Saturday or Sunday morning. Just imagine his voice saying this tweet.
Sergio Ramos. Cynical. Conniving. Clever. A one man wrecking ball whose actions in Kiev ensured a Real win. #DarkArts https://t.co/6dtqEpKo5h
— Arlo White (@arlowhite) June 4, 2018
Rawan @rawan
She’s a Messi fanatic with quality commentary.
I regret to inform you that after four years of telling myself there’s no chance, i have convinced myself that Messi has a chance this summer
— Rawan (@rawan) June 6, 2018
Ryan Rosenblatt @RyanRosenblatt
STATISTICS.
If you add up the ages of #USMNT goal scorers Josh Sargent and Tim Weah, they’re still three years younger than Tim Howard
— Ryan Rosenblatt (@RyanRosenblatt) May 29, 2018
Jason Foster @JogaBonito_USA
This fan regularly produces great GIFs of goals and skills and has a good eye for the game.
Brian Ownby's goal in 62nd minute to make it 3-2 for #LouCity vs #NERevs was worthy of winning any game! Dribbling away from goal at the top of the box, and unleashed a laser into the top corner! #Golazo #LOUvNE #USCO2018 pic.twitter.com/QXJwC8yGGI
— Jason Foster (@JogaBonito_USA) June 6, 2018
Stuart Holden @stuholden
One of the few Fox broadcasters who will call matches from Russia, Holden might actually have some insight as to what’s going on during the World Cup, unlike most of his fellow Fox announcers. Plus, based on last year’s trip to Russia for the Confederations Cup, he’ll probably have an interesting trip.
Wheels up... 11 days until first match... see you soon Mother Russia . Let’s get this party started @FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/3KES2Qfbv6
— Stuart Holden (@stuholden) June 3, 2018
John Lally @ doolallyblue
The18.com's bitter englishman. Takes as hot as the Everton manager hotseat.
I know that voice :) https://t.co/EY0TdISHBP
— John Lally (@doolallyblue) May 23, 2018
Cristiano Ronaldo @Cristiano
Lionel Messi doesn’t really do the Twitter so the next-best player on Twitter is Ronaldo.
Ready pic.twitter.com/8jwT3lbaAl
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) June 6, 2018
Zlatan Ibrahimovic @Ibra_official
Zlatan won’t be at the World Cup as a player, but he’ll still loom large, especially when Sweden is playing.
I cannot deprive the FIFA World Cup ™ of Zlatan. I will be there. I even have a coach ready. Fully Zlatanised. Zlatan will return to the #WorldCup, thanks to @Visa pic.twitter.com/Y795byIpt2
— Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) May 10, 2018
Christian Pulisic @cpulisic_10
He’ll probably try to sell you something this summer, but you gotta follow the best U.S. men’s soccer player.
Happy to officially announce my partnership with @HersheyCompany These OUTRAGEOUS @reeses cleats are #ReesesOutrageous pic.twitter.com/jMmPyPNRib
— Christian Pulisic (@cpulisic_10) May 25, 2018
Bobby Boswell @bobbyboswell
Boswell is a former USMNT player with a lighthearted take on the beautiful game. Warning: Do not follow if allergic to Dad Jokes.
What's Irish and stays out all night?
Paddy O FurnitureYou're welcome & Happy St. Patrick's Day.
— Bobby Boswell (@bobbyboswell) March 17, 2018
Landon Donovan @landondonovan
One final former USMNT player on here. He’s sure to have some hot takes this summer, probably still bitter Jurgen Klinsmann didn’t add him to the USMNT roster for 2018.
Hey @LeroySane19 -want to go grab a few and chat?
— Landon Donovan (@landondonovan) June 4, 2018
Others who are chill:
Sam We Don't Know His Last Name: @barstoolsam
Aaron West: @ayyy_west
Sam Klomhaus: @SamKlomhaus
Aly Wagner: @AlyWagner
Feroze Ali: @feroze17
Mike L. Goodman: @TheM_L_G
Twitters To Not Follow For The World Cup
Alexi Lalas @AlexiLalas
He’s brash, arrogant and uninteresting. Not worth your time.
My new album for summer called #Sunshine. Short, fun pop/rock songs. Check it out...or don't.
Amazon - https://t.co/LjoxAzb6rPiTunes - https://t.co/HQ88y5kng9
Spotify - https://t.co/6XrrBac6fo
— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) June 6, 2018
Jim Rome @jimrome
Does anyone ever care what he has to say?
Jason Whitlock @WhitlockJason
I’ll be honest, I blocked this blowhard as soon as I realized you could do that on Twitter, so I have no idea what he’s up to, which is just fine by me.
Joe Prince-Wright @JPW_NBCSports
NBC Sports’ lead soccer writer is the definition of a boring Twitter personality.
Love this time of a #WorldCup year
Previews of all 32 teams will be on https://t.co/zxiOGtIBoR & plenty more build-up to the tournament pic.twitter.com/gLUoDI8mtA— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) June 6, 2018
U.S. Soccer MNT @ussoccer_mnt
No need to follow these guys this summer. Move along.