LAS VEGAS — For 12 years, award-winning Associated Press veteran photographer John Locher has called Las Vegas home, covering beats ranging from high-stakes professional sports to sudden breaking news, in-depth human interest features and original enterprise reporting. When the 2022 FIFA World Cup rolled around, Locher approached his assignment with a creative eye that set his work apart from typical tournament coverage.
Unlike traditional match-day photography that centers on action inside stadiums, Locher set out to capture the far-reaching passion the World Cup sparks across the globe, even in cities not hosting any tournament games. For the Friday matchup between Australia and the United States, he turned his lens to local fan gatherings to showcase the widespread excitement that extends far beyond match venues. Known for its one-of-a-kind approach to entertainment, Las Vegas offered the perfect unconventional backdrop: a poolside watch party.
Locher’s first stop was Circa Resort and Casino, a venue that had already built a reputation for hosting large-scale sports watch parties on a massive outdoor screen above its swimming pool. Anticipating the scene would be unlike any standard viewing event, he planned his shoot to highlight this uniqueness. After capturing close-up shots of cheering fans reacting to game moments, he began searching for an elevated vantage point that could frame the full scope of the gathering. Using a wide-angle lens, Locher captured a sweeping shot that included hundreds of fans gathered in the pool alongside the iconic casino skyline of downtown Las Vegas, emphasizing the unusual setting of this World Cup viewing experience.
In reflecting on the power of the image, Locher noted that the photograph succeeds because it embodies Las Vegas’ signature tendency to turn ordinary events into extraordinary experiences. While bars and restaurants across the United States hosted watch parties for the highly anticipated Australia-US clash, this poolside gathering offered a distinctly Las Vegas twist that could not be replicated anywhere else. The image stands as a testament to how deeply the World Cup’s cultural pull penetrates communities across the country, even far from the tournament’s host stadiums.
This photo is part of The Associated Press’ ongoing comprehensive coverage of the FIFA World Cup. More of AP’s award-winning World Cup reporting can be viewed on their dedicated coverage hub.