From Toilet Darkrooms to Record-Breaking Instagram Shots
Few people have documented the World Cup as closely or as long as Shaun Botterill. Over a career spanning four decades, the legendary sports photographer has witnessed the tournament transform beyond recognition — and his camera has been there for all of it.
In a video interview published by The Guardian, Botterill sat down with Guardian Australia picture editor Carly Earl to look back on what has changed since he first started shooting the tournament. The contrast between then and now is striking.
In the early years, getting photographs out of a stadium was an exercise in improvisation. With no digital infrastructure to speak of, Botterill and his peers had to develop film on-site, often making use of whatever space was available — including the stadium toilets. It was unglamorous work, but it was the reality of sports photography before the digital age took hold.
Fast-forward to the modern era and the challenges are entirely different. Social media has changed not just how photos are distributed but how they are judged. One of Botterill’s images became, at the time of recording, the most-liked post in Instagram history — a measure of reach that would have been utterly unimaginable to the photographers huddled over developing trays in stadium bathrooms decades ago.
The viral image in question features Lionel Messi, reflecting both the player’s extraordinary standing in the global game and the power of a single well-timed photograph to resonate with millions of people simultaneously.
For UK football fans and bettors keeping a close eye on World Cup 2026, this kind of behind-the-scenes perspective is a reminder of how much infrastructure surrounds the tournament beyond the 90 minutes on the pitch. The images that circulate after each game shape public perception and, in many ways, define how tournaments are remembered.
With the next edition of the World Cup on the horizon, interest in the tournament’s history and visual legacy is only growing. You can keep up with all the latest fixtures and results at our World Cup 2026 hub, and check the current live standings as the competition progresses.
Botterill’s reflections serve as a fascinating record of how sports media has evolved — and a reminder that behind every iconic tournament moment, there is usually a photographer who has spent a lifetime learning how to find it.