With the World Cup final on the horizon, photographer Raphael Gaultier — as devoted to the game as he is to shooting it — turned his lens on football fandom in New York. Hypebeast pulled together six local creatives for the shoot, each repping a country tied to their roots, their story, or their career.

The pairings ran deep. Arianna and Shintaro Cho bridge the US and Japan through their sake bar, Asoko; Mr. K brings Korea’s micro-realism tattoo scene; Yavez Anthonio filters Amsterdam’s cultural mix through his photography and DJ work; Loso channels Mexico through his design practice; Dylan Ali carries France by way of her Habesha and DMV roots; and Alici Sol grounds Brazil in her Bossa Nova-inflected music. Sake bar owners, a tattoo artist, a working DJ — the cast spans industries, but each was chosen for how plainly that heritage runs through the work, and all of them share the same city and the same love of the game.

We also sat down with all six to talk culture, craft, and fandom. Arianna Cho points to nostalgia — the Japanese-American memory baked into Asoko, down to her childhood Game Boy on display in the tatami room. Dylan Ali wants her DJ sets to spotlight “Black identity while unifying a global audience through panafricanism and diasporic sounds.” And for Alici Sol, home is non-negotiable — her music “would be nothing without connecting it back to Brazil.”

The shoot lands mid-run at Hypebeast Cup, the month-long clubhouse at 430 West Broadway in SoHo and the final stop on a global tour that’s already hit Shanghai, Tokyo, and Singapore. Open through July 19, it trains its attention off the pitch and onto everything orbiting it: fashion, design, music, and the creative communities driving football culture right now — sound by House Under Magic, plus rotating brand residencies from Full Kit to SOCCERTES. This is New York, living the game its own way.

How did growing up in your home country shape the way you create today?
Arianna: I grew up in an environment where following your own path was encouraged, especially with the support of my family, so I continue to foster my own independence in whatever I do.

Shintaro: Kanazawa specifically is surrounded by traditional artisans and craftsmanship and when I create something, I use the same thoughtfulness and care in my approach.

What’s something specific from your culture that shows up in your work?
Likely nostalgia. While Pokemon itself is from Japan, growing up both the gameboy and Nintendo 64 games were a really big part of my life (my original childhood gameboy is displayed in the tatami space), and as Asoko’s primary concept was to transport people into Cho and Yuri (our third owner!)’s Japanese nostalgic experiences, Americans can also relate to Pokemon cards, hence the big display in our bathroom!

Shintaro: Besides my personal items I grew up with, like old issues of Shonen Jump or my Superfamicom games, Asoko’s focus is to show sake to an audience who didn’t grow up with it, with a range of tastes, styles, flavors from all different prefectures, including some from my home prefecture of Ishikawa.

What did your upbringing teach you about craft or self-expression?

Arianna: My family constantly supported my natural autonomy, especially when it came to self-expression and fashion, so this constantly shows up in our practices at the sake bar, and how I collect and research clothing.

Shintaro:: I come from a family of florists, so craft and self expression has always been around me. While my family has only lived in Japan, I am the first to move to a different country, and I credit that courage to the freedom I was shown growing up.

How does your background influence the way you develop ideas?

Arianna: I feel that the idea of “you can do anything if you put your mind to it” is a very American mindset that was instilled in me through pop culture and general attitudes, and I’m very optimistic in the ways I develop ideas from that.

Shintaro: Japan is a cultural leader in food, fashion, music, technology, so since I grew up surrounded by all of them, all of these ideas and references come natural to me.

If someone looked closely at your work, where would they see your heritage in it?

Arianna: Probably in the way that there are many different expressions and experiences that exist throughout our work, mirroring the place I grew up.

Shintaro: Japan has a very strict discipline of attention to detail and this is in my work whether it was the sketches I made of the space pre-opening, or exact measurements of the particular shape of the bar, or even the way we, as a team, built shelves to display empty sake bottles.

How did growing up in your home country shape the way you create today?

Mr. K: Growing up, I was exposed to art early through my parents, which shaped my perspective and appreciation for diversity in art. I was almost obsessed with drawing realism, and over time, I naturally transitioned into translating that same realism onto skin—just on a much smaller scale.

What’s something specific from your culture that shows up in your work?

Korean cultural elements don’t directly appear in my work, but there’s a strong influence in terms of craftsmanship. Traditionally, Koreans are known for being detail-oriented and skillful with their hands. That’s one of the reasons why Korean artists are highly respected in the micro-realism tattoo scene.

What did your upbringing teach you about craft or self-expression?

Art and fashion defined my teenage years. Because of that, I’ve always been more comfortable expressing myself visually rather than verbally. Creating and styling became my language.

How does your background influence the way you develop ideas?

My background in fine art, studying graphic design in college, and working in the fashion industry creating graphics built a very solid foundation for what I do now. Tattooing became a new beginning for me—one where I could develop a style and visual identity that didn’t really exist in the scene before.

If someone looked closely at your work, where would they see your heritage in it?

Micro-detail is my strength. Extremely refined details combined with a strong graphic design foundation are what define my work—they’re essentially the soul of everything I create.

How did growing up in your home country shape the way you create today?

Yavez: Growing up in Amsterdam taught me to find inspiration everywhere. I was surrounded by a mix of cultures, music, fashion, and art from a young age, and that naturally made me curious. I think that’s why my work is always pulling from different worlds.

What’s something specific from your culture that shows up in your work?

Growing up in Amsterdam, a city where so many cultures come together, gave me a really broad perspective. That mix naturally influences the people, music, and stories I’m drawn to, and those things always find their way into my work.

What did your upbringing teach you about craft or self-expression?

To trust my own perspective. I never felt like I had to fit into one box creatively, and growing up around different influences made me comfortable mixing things together and creating something that feels personal.

How does your background influence the way you develop ideas?

I’m always thinking about people first. Whether it’s a photo, film, or event, I want it to feel real and connected. My background made me appreciate different perspectives, so I naturally look for stories and moments that bring people together.

If someone looked closely at your work, where would they see your heritage in it?

Probably in the energy more than anything. The music, the sense of community, the people I choose to work with, and the way I capture emotion all come from the environments I grew up in.

How did growing up in your home country shape the way you create today?

Loso: Growing up in Mexico I traveled a lot with my grandparents, we would visit the Museum of the Mummies of Guanajuato and visit old Aztec and Mayan ruins. Makes you wonder about the afterlife and has me thinking about the art I will leave behind, it has to be timeless and a reflection of what I’m going thru at the moment.

What’s something specific from your culture that shows up in your work?

Skull imagery…in Mexican culture, death is not something to fear. It is seen as a natural part of life, this belief comes from both indigenous traditions and Spanish catholic influence creating meaningful rituals, art and celebrations that honor the dead.

What did your upbringing teach you about craft or self-expression?

My upbringing taught me discipline, that anything is possible and hard work beats talent. Witnessed many craftsman as a child so I know what it takes.

How does your background influence the way you develop ideas?

My background taught me to honor the greats that came before me. Artistic integrity is rare nowadays.

If someone looked closely at your work, where would they see your heritage in it?

My heritage is sprinkled throughout my work like an Easter egg, I tend to not make it too obvious. It could be a color palette, Mexican pop culture or indigenous reference — it’s always present.

How did growing up in your home country shape the way you create today?

Dylan: Growing up in one of the most diverse cities in America has not only opened me up to experiences outside of my own, it’s allowed me to explore commonalities through lived experience while celebrating the contributions of those who differ from me. The contrast defines how I play for a room and ensures everyone feels welcome at my DJ sets. I want my work to highlight Black identity while unifying a global audience through panafricanism and diasporic sounds.

What’s something specific from your culture that shows up in your work?

Everything I do will always be very hip hop and very rock and roll. I love being alternative and Black! I love being Ethiopian! I love having an American father from New York! I love Washington DC & PG county! I’m very proud of where I come from. All of these influences converge whenever I plug in my usb.

What did your upbringing teach you about craft or self-expression?

Finding ways to express yourself authentically (while society encourages conformity) is a pivotal part of the Black creative experience; especially in a digital era controlled by social media algorithms and oppressive ideology. Being Black in America teaches you to make do with what you can, and to create beauty out of the imaginary. The best work often comes from community working together with little to no resources in the name of accomplishing a higher purpose. It’s how we’ve navigated every dark chapter since America’s inception.

How does your background influence the way you develop ideas?

It’s a constant reminder to be more selfless and that there’s a world outside of my little social bubble. I try my hardest to not succumb to systems or mindsets that don’t serve the greater good. Being Black American taught me to always be the best I can be and put my all into whatever I do. Society is already rigged against our success, if I don’t believe in myself no one else will. Being Habesha has taught me the importance of family, community, hospitality, sharing, pride, and hard work. Growing up in the DMV has influenced the way I engage with different backgrounds of people across socioeconomic, religious, and racial backgrounds. Living in New York has reinforced those influences on a larger scale.

If someone looked closely at your work, where would they see your heritage in it?

Definitely through my musical selection and how I dress. I wear my identity on my sleeve! I’m also always reinventing myself through the lens of my own lived experiences.

How did growing up in your home country shape the way you create today?

Alici: I grew up moving around my whole life, with Belo Horizonte, Brazil as my center. It’s the place I always ground myself back to. It’s the place I truly fell in love with music. Listening to and going through my family’s record collections.

What’s something specific from your culture that shows up in your work?

I would say that my work is all about my culture. It would be nothing without connecting it back to Brazil. I make Bossa Nova/MPB/Brazilian music. It’s Brazilian by the nature of how I play guitar and mix my English and Portuguese poetry/lyrics.

What did your upbringing teach you about craft or self-expression?

It taught me to be myself. I did high school in Seattle and didn’t feel like I connected to it when I was young. As I got older, music saved my life and taught me that being myself and being unique can be a good thing.

How does your background influence the way you develop ideas?

I like to go with the flow and follow the rhythm of ideas and never force music/new work. I think that comes from a Brazilian nature of enjoying life.

If someone looked closely at your work, where would they see your heritage in it?

In everything.