CAIRO, Egypt — Starting on June 12, the masses gravitated towards the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup with the joy, excitement and frustration that surround an international sport event of this magnitude. NYU Abu Dhabi was no stranger to the tournament and, in spite of summer coursework and ongoing internships, the World Cup lit Sama Tower late into the night.

With games taking place halfway across the globe, scheduling posed a problem, particularly in the group stage. The difficulty of staying up until 2 a.m. to watch the last game of the day, however, was a sacrifice some were more than willing to make. Rising sophomore Yi Yi Yeap, who was supporting the Australian Socceroos, claimed to have followed as many games as her sleep patterns allowed.

"I watched the Australia matches but I also basically tried to watch whatever matches I could wake up to," she said, explaining that she would finish her coursework before watching the matches since her classes only lasted two hours a day.

Many students chose to leave Sama to watch the teams fight for glory. Assistant Director of Student Life Vic Lindsay extended an open invitation for students to watch some games at his house. For the opening of the World Cup on June 12, the NYUAD Athletics Department provided transportation for students to the Du Arena on Yas Island, where they watched Brazil play Croatia on two giant theater-sized screens. While most of those who came to Yas Island sat at a reserved table, graduate Rafael Scharan and junior Clara Correia were shown to Coca-Cola’s “Best Seats in the House” thanks to their colorful support of the Brazilian national team.

“It was a really exciting and proud moment to see my home country win when there were so many people cheering along with me,” said Scharan. “I think such big international sports tournaments are moments to be shared with people and not just friends but strangers as well. To be in the ‘Best Seats of the House’ was pretty special as well, especially because it felt as if [Correia] and I had become some sort of ambassadors of our country at that venue.”

Whether people ventured to Yas Island, stayed in Sama or made a quick trip to one of Abu Dhabi’s many cafés screening the matches, the social rituals of the World Cup were not forgotten.