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. On a daily basis, these seven photographers provide imagery from Europe, Asia, North and South America that symbolises unity, community and the passion of football fans worldwide.

In addition to delivering geographically and artistically diverse imagery to the brief, these photographers serve as inspiration to the “United photography contest”, run in conjunction with the Sony World Photography Awards. The United Inspirational Photographers are: Anthony Lepinay (France), Ariel Jacobsen (Argentina), Ashleigh Rae Staton (USA), Federico Modica (Italy), Taro Karibe (Japan), Zackary Canepari (Brazil), Myriam Meloni (Spain). The United contest encourages photographers to enter their images that display celebration, community and unity – whether celebrating a win in a pub full of sports enthusiasts, on the field playing your own match, hovered around the television with your friends, or in the stadium surrounded by millions of fellow fans.

USA: New York football fans congregate in the Red Bull Arena for the USA v Ghana game. (Photo by Ashleigh Rae Staton)

Argentina: Chilean and Colombian fans cheer for their teams in Buenos Aires. (Photo by Ariel Jacobsen)

Spain: A girl watches the game between Netherlands and Spain, in Barcelona. (Photo by Myriam Meloni)

Japan: Portraits of people gathered for the FIFA World Cup express that even strangers can be united – all over a ball. (Photo by Taro Karibe)

Argentina: Argentinian fans in Buenos Aires celebrate their win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Ariel Jacobsen)

Brazil: Belgian fan supports his team during the Algeria v Belgium match. (Photo by Zackary Canepari)

Brazil: Algerian fan supports his team during the Algeria v Belgium match. (Photo by Zackary Canepari)