Mamak restaurants have long served as gathering places for football fans, especially during major tournaments such as the World Cup. Whether supporting Liverpool, Manchester United, Argentina or Brazil, Malaysians of all backgrounds have spent decades gathering in the middle of the night to watch football together.

For many, the experience is about more than the game itself. There’s the anticipation before kick-off, the collective groan after a missed penalty, the eruption of cheers after a dramatic goal.

Strangers often end up talking football over Milo or teh tarik as if they had known each other for years.

Part of the appeal lies in accessibility: unlike sports bars, mamaks remain affordable, casual and welcoming. One drink is often enough to earn a seat for an entire match, making the spaces especially popular with students and friends gathering late into the night.

With many European and World Cup matches airing after midnight local time, mamaks became some of the few lively places still open and amenable to the occasional emotional outburst.

For college student Guan Peng Tuan, 22, watching football at a mamak eatery is as much about the atmosphere as the match itself. “You can watch at home nowadays, but it’s different at the mamak,” he shared.

“When everyone reacts together – celebrating a goal or getting angry at the referee – it feels more exciting.”

Guan said he and his friends are already planning late-night gatherings for the World Cup, complete with football jerseys and “a lot of shouting”.

Fellow university student Nur Aisyah Rahman, also 22, said football nights at mamaks have become one of the few activities that consistently bring her friends together.

“Some support different teams, so there’s always teasing and arguments during matches,” she said with a laugh. “But after the game, everyone still sits together to makan. That’s the fun part.”

She added that major tournaments often give mamak eateries a festive atmosphere. “During the World Cup especially, the whole place feels alive even at 3am.”

Indeed, the culture has evolved into something uniquely Malaysian. Football fans might argue fiercely over rival clubs moments before sharing a plate of roti canai together after the match ends.

Even as streaming services and mobile viewing become more common, the communal experience remains difficult to replace. After all, in Malaysia, football isn’t just about what happens on the pitch – it’s also about where friends and strangers can watch the game together-gether.