Sports have the ability to transform groups of strangers into a united community. In the celebratory spirit surrounding the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Sony and the World Photography Organisation present UNITED – a contest honouring the passion of football fans around the world. Seven inspirational photographers have been selected by Sony and WPO to capture the atmosphere and celebration of the World Cup across the globe. Photo: France – French fans cheering for their team. (Photo by Anthony Lepinay)

A Brazil soccer fan wearing contact lenses that mimic the Brazilian flag reacts as she watches her team play Germany in a World Cup semifinal game via live telecast inside the FIFA Fan Fest area on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. (Photo by Leo Correa/AP Photo)

Participants prepare backstage before the 5th “Strongo Cup” open amateur bodybuilding tournament at the State Opera and Ballet Theatre in Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, November 1, 2014. Participants from all over Russia took part in the tournament competing in bodybuilding, body fitness and bikini fitness disciplines. (Photo by Ilya Naymushin/Reuters)

Partner of Team USA's Dustin Johnson, Paulina Gretzky celebrates with champagne after winning over Team Europe during Sunday Singles Matches of the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits on September 26, 2021 in Kohler, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Elementary school sumo wrestler Kyuta Kumagai competes in a sumo ring at a regional tournament of Junior Olympic Cup All-Japan Elementary School Sumo Championship in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo, Japan, October 17, 2021. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

Daniela Haralambie of Romania competes during the qualification of the women's FIS Ski Jumping World Cup competition at the Gross-Titlis Schanze in Engelberg, Switzerland, Thursday, December 14, 2023. (Photo by Philipp Schmidli/Keystone via AP Photo)

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo poses for a photo with Giuliana, a fan from Brazil, as he arrives with the Portuguese team at Lisbon airport to depart for the World Cup in Qatar, Friday, November 18, 2022. (Photo by Armando Franca/AP Photo)

A Germany fan looks dejected after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Costa Rica and Germany at Al Bayt Stadium on December 1, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)