Soccer And Globalization Research Paper

Javier Silva

Professor Chris Vander Kaay

English Comp I

28 March 2018

Soccer and Globalization Every 4 years the biggest sports tournament is played – The World Cup. 32 nations send their best players in hopes of winning the trophy and add a star to their badge, but the world of soccer was a lot different 88 years ago. The first edition of the World Cup was played in 1930 with Uruguay playing fluid and short passes, the typical Uruguayan style of play at the time, ending up as champions after a win against Argentina in the final. 84 years later using a formation invented by a Brazilian in the 60’s, perfected by a Dutch team in the late 70’s, and brought into popularity by a Spanish team; Germany won its 4th World Cup against Argentina. Allowing the knowledge and tactics of the game to quickly spread across the world, Globalization fundamentally changed soccer and is one of the greatest things to ever happen to the sport.

4 years later following the large British community in Argentina, Thomas and James Hogg organized a meeting where Buenos Aires Football Club, the first South American soccer club, was founded and it gradually spread across the country through schools. In the same way English railroad workers brought soccer into Central America by organizing games against the locals of Borja, Paraguay and as a result the club Everton was founded in 1886 as a homage to the team from Liverpool, England. In Africa, British soldiers, sailors, traders, and government employees enjoyed soccer as entertainment, but they also saw it as a major way of “civilizing”