The Influence Of Soccer

Have you ever wondered why soccer is a popular sport worldwide? Many people have played soccer for a long time, but there are people that just like watching it and enjoy a soccer game that brings excitement. Soccer is a sport that brings all different types of ethnicities together. It creates nationalism in people all over the world during its events and games. Soccer also brings the countries together during the World Cup. The World Cup is a war. How is it a war? A soccer game in the World Cup is like a battle in a war; different countries’ teams fight to win the tournament. Soccer is a sport that is extremely good exercise for the people who play it, which affects the whole body. Soccer is also an inexpensive sport compared to other sports.

Furthermore, during the World Cup, soccer fans are the people that help nationalism survive in soccer. For example, Sarah Lipkis said, “Fans dressed in team colors, waving flags, and shouting slogans, all contribute to a sense of belonging and nationalism”(World Policy). It explains how people go to fight for their team by doing it like as a country. This demonstrates how soccer fans are part of developing soccer’s popularity by bringing their nation to the World Cup. In addition, Gabriel Gasave compared soccer to an old story; he says “.. like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, flags and national anthems align the masses behind their countries’ respective teams”(Independent Institute). Soccer fans go to support their country fully prepared and do their best to be supportive of their country during the game. These people have the flag of their country as a rallying point during the game. Soccer fans from the same country are on the same side after the game no matter what the results are. For example, Sarah Lipkis states, “...as seen in Spain after the 2010 World Cup game; the win created a temporary sense of unity between such regional identities as the Catalans, Basques, and Galicians”( World Policy). She explains the win in Spain created a sense of jubilation and countrywide celebration between all kinds of people from the same country. This describes that when different types of people in the same country unite after the win of their team, nationalism is being developed by the fans. Moreover, according to Sarah Lipkis article “The opposite is also true; losing a game can plunge an entire nation into mourning”(World Policy). The entire country feels deeply sad when their country loses a game. This is evidence that even during a loss for the country’s team, nationalism is still there. Although the World Cup is the event that helps nationalism survive in soccer, the fans are what really bring countries