In Pictures: Goaaaaaalllll!
The 2014 Brazil World Cup opens on June 12 and fans around the globe are gearing up for the big tournament. But soccer lovers are not only preparing to watch the world's best professional players battle it out on the pitch; they are also out there kicking a ball about themselves. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.
A boy with a cricket bat gestures while playing near a soccer goalpost in a slum in Karachi May 30, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.AKHTAR SOOMRO/Reuters
In a photograph taken using long exposure, a goalpost is illuminated by a flashlight at the Harpur's Hill housing estate in the town of Coleraine May 28, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.CATHAL MCNAUGHTON/Reuters
A man plays soccer with migrant workers from Bangladesh and India at a street soccer court near a workers' dormitory (behind) in Singapore June 3, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.EDGAR SU/Reuters
A cathedral is seen through a soccer goalpost in Locorotondo, south of Bari, southern Italy May 31, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.ALESSANDRO GAROFALO/Reuters
A cow stands in front of a soccer goalpost in a field in Monnickendam June 4, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.MICHAEL KOOREN/Reuters
A soccer goalpost stands in a field in the Vedado neighbourhood of Havana June 1, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.ENRIQUE DE LA OSA/Reuters
The city skyline is seen through a soccer goalpost in Toronto May 27, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.MARK BLINCH/Reuters
Goalposts stand in a soccer field flooded by the waters of the Paraguay River in Asuncion May 30, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.JORGE ADORNO/Reuters
Dogs walk past a goalpost on a foggy morning in the town of Lipljan June 3, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.HAZIR REKA/Reuters
Goalposts stand in a public soccer pitch in Berlin June 1, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.THOMAS PETER/Reuters
A goalpost stands in a field on the outskirts of Ronda, near Malaga, southern Spain June 5, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.JON NAZCA/Reuters
A Swiss airline jet flies over a goalpost on a soccer pitch as it approaches to land at Zurich Airport in the town of Kloten May 31, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.ARND WIEGMANN/Reuters
A boy jumps to save a goal while playing soccer at Shivaji Park in Mumbai June 3, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.DANISH SIDDIQUI/Reuters
Players for "The Tuesdays" pose in a soccer goalpost at a training ground in Balham, south London June 3, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.STEFAN WERMUTH/Reuters
A soccer goalpost stands at Pescadores beach in Chorrillos, Lima June 2, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.MARIANA BAZO/Reuters
A night football league player kicks a ball into a goal at the Westway Sports Center in London June 3, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.SUZANNE PLUNKETT/Reuters
A local man trains on a goalpost at an athletic field at twilight in the town of Divnogorsk outside Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk June 2, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.ILYA NAYMUSHIN/Reuters
A soccer goalpost stands on a pitch in Luwan Sports Center in downtown Shanghai May 30, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.CARLOS BARRIA/Reuters
Two men kick a ball on a soccer field in front of a coking plant in the western city of Bottrop June 2, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.INA FASSBENDER/Reuters
A goalpost is painted on a wall at a house used as a creche in Ciudad Juarez June 3, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.STRINGER/Reuters
A kite flies above a goalpost at a playing field in a slum on the outskirts of Sao Paulo June 5, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.PAULO WHITAKER/Reuters
A photograph taken using long exposure shows a goalpost which has been illuminated with torches at a leisure facility in front of the European Central Bank (ECB) headquarters in Frankfurt June 1, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.RALPH ORLOWSKI/Reuters
Men pose for a photograph in front of a goalpost in the Castro-Castro Prison in Lima June 2, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.MARIANA BAZO/Reuters
Grass grows in front of a goalpost in downtown Zagreb June 2, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.ANTONIO BRONIC/Reuters
Children play soccer on a playing field in Kirtipur, Kathmandu May 31, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.NAVESH CHITRAKAR/Reuters
A goalpost stands in Duillier near Geneva May 30, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.DENIS BALIBOUSE/Reuters
A broken soccer goalpost stands on a pitch in Wythenshawe Park near Manchester, northern England March 29, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.PHIL NOBLE/Reuters
A makeshift soccer goalpost stands near Molweni, west of Durban June 5, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.ROGAN WARD/Reuters
A worker walks past a soccer goalpost at a playing field in Kamnik June 2, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.SRDJAN ZIVULOVIC/Reuters
Sheep graze in front of a soccer goalpost in Shuto Orizari, a shantytown near the capital Skopje June 4, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.OGNEN TEOFILOVSKI/Reuters
A soccer goalpost stands half buried in the ground after a major flood, at a stadium in Nemila June 3, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.DADO RUVIC/Reuters
A boy jumps to save a goal while playing soccer on the beach in Benghazi June 1, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.STRINGER/Reuters
Goalposts stand in a soccer field flooded by the waters of the Paraguay River in Asuncion May 30, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.JORGE ADORNO/Reuters
A woman walks her dog past a soccer goalpost beside the Arakawa River in Tokyo June 1, 2014. Reuters photographers on every continent, in countries from China to the Czech Republic, went out to capture images of soccer goalposts used by players to practise the 'beautiful game'.YUYA SHINO/Reuters