Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, with its influence reaching far beyond the pitch. The beautiful game has the power to connect cultures and nations, transcending language barriers and fostering a sense of unity among diverse populations.
Africa: Soccer as a Cultural Unifier and Economic Catalyst
In Africa, soccer is the preeminent sport and the single greatest cultural unifier. An entire cultural ecosystem is built around the pursuit of goals, including casual players, professional athletes, online gamblers, fanatical supporters, tavern owners, sidewalk vendors, broadcasters, and journalists. The Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) 2021 was broadcast in over 157 countries, with a viewership of 65 million in Nigeria alone. Increased connections between soccer and the cultural and creative economy will make the already dominant sport even more dynamic.
The FIFA World Cup: A Global Phenomenon
The FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events on earth, watched by billions of fans internationally. Soccer’s power is significant when wielded by a country like Qatar, which has been embroiled in controversy over human rights abuses and political conflicts. The World Cup emerged in the wake of World War I, out of a sentiment linked to the rise of the rules-based international order. Every World Cup final is watched by more human beings than have ever watched anything before in the history of the human race.
Documenting the Beautiful Game: Soccer in Film
Football documentaries have become increasingly popular in recent years, covering everything from individual players to entire teams. The Mitchell and Kenyon Film Company documented everyday life in the Edwardian age, including some of the oldest surviving films of professional football. The earliest proto documentaries of what the world calls “o jogo bonito,” the beautiful game, were recorded during the 1902-03 English association football league season. Daniel Gordon’s The Game of Their Lives (2002) documents the surviving players on the North Korean team and their dream run at the 1966 World Cup.
Soccer: Connecting Cultures and Nations
Soccer connects cultures and nations, with two-thirds of the French team in the 2018 World Cup being of immigrant origin. More countries and nation-like entities are members of FIFA than of the UN. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea had already been playing in FIFA tournaments for 30 years before they were admitted to the United Nations. The 1966 World Cup saw North Korea knock out Italy, the favorites, before being denied a semi-final spot by Portugal’s Eusebio. Soccer and the World Cup are conversation starters that can be discussed anywhere in the world.
