The World Cup, national identity, and unity
The World Cup is fast approaching and is the most popular sporting event in the world, with many fans from many countries glueing their eyes on the TV. However, while fans will be watching the World Cup, many will settle their differences and come support the nation together. So, let’s analyse how people from different nations come together and support the national team.
When compared to other sports, there’s no denying that football is the most globalised in the world. The only thing that is required to play is a ball. You don’t even need a net to play the game, as people can play using made up nets — such as having big rocks or garbage cans serve as the goal posts. This is why you see football played in almost every single country. Football has no boundaries. It is played by people from all socioeconomic backgrounds, religions, cultures, races, and genders.
There is something universal about the game of football. The great German player Franz Beckenbauer said it perfectly: “Football is one of the best means of communication. It is impartial, apolitical and universal. Football unites people around the world everyday. Young or old, players or fans, rich or poor. The game makes everyone equal, stirs the imagination, makes people happy and makes people sad.”
Football is a sport that is very easy to understand. The rules are simple. The game doesn’t have commercial breaks (aside from half time), and there aren’t many nuances to the way the game is played.
One aspect of the FIFA World Cup that allows people to come together, is its scheduling. Each team is guaranteed at least three games, with two of those games coming at a unique time in which no one else is playing.
This gives fans the opportunity to fully invest themselves in the World Cup spirit by having the opportunity of watching almost every single game. Needless to say, when someone’s country is playing in a World Cup game, it is very likely that the whole country freezes to watch the game. With the Olympics, it’s harder to find a sporting event in which a country stops what it is doing to get together and watch the competition. This is because there are many matches, from many sports, going on at a time.
Côte d’Ivoire
Following three years of civil war from 2002–2005, Côte d’Ivoire’s qualification to the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany was a pivotal factor in ending the conflict. After the match, star player Didier Drogba addressed his country with some strong words: “Men and women of the Ivory Coast, from the north, south, center and west, we proved today that all Ivorians can coexist and play together with a shared objective: to qualify for the World Cup. We promised you that the celebration would unite the people. Today, we beg you, please — on our knees — forgive. Forgive, forgive. The one country in Africa with so many riches must not descend into war like this. Please, lay down all weapons. Hold elections, organize elections. All will be better.” In 2007, a peace agreement was signed to end the war, with Drogba being cited as one of the main influencers to strive for peace.
In many countries today, athletes are adored by children, and tend to be more liked than politicians. Through Drogba’s words (a footballer), many were able to separate their differences and come together. Football is a sport that brings so many people together and many love the game, so when a footballer like Didier Drogba says something, many will follow. This can be based on the idea that when we aspire to be someone, we follow and mimic what they do, or behave in a way similar to them.
France
France has always been a country that’s not far away from racial conflicts. In 1998, they had a fantastic team. They had the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Didier Deschamps, Lilian Thuram, and more. This team was filled with diversity and that World Cup, the French people were united together as one. Yet, following the World Cup, racial tensions started to boil. What’s most evident and important of football in France, especially when Les Bleus are competing in an international tournament is that the nation are behind the players. Football brings a sense of unity, and no matter the differences between people, there’s a common passion between all.
The French national team has always proved as a common ground for people of difference to come and unite. They represent national pride. They represent national diversity. And they represent national success. No matter how hard politicians may try to rally a nation together, people idolise athletes and with the powerful influence that athletes have, anything is possible.
Italy
Italy are a football-mad nation, with fans of many teams that are not afraid to bring politics into football. However, despite the political differences and club allegiances, every Italian fan comes together when the World Cup or the European Championship occurs. Why? Because of a common identity.
The World Cup is comprised of 32 teams, and each of the 32 teams are comprised of players that represent the nation. Unlike in club competitions, there’s usually only one representative of a nation and because of that, there’s a common identity amongst the fan. This also has to do with the ingroup bias, the idea that people tend to favour those that are in the “same group” as them. In this case, the group can be classified at Italians, and because Italy is a common identity amongst all, many forget their differences and come together to support the team. Furthermore, according to the Mastercard Fan Passion Report, Italians have the highest percentage of people that have missed important .
Argentina
Argentina can be argued for as the most passionate footballing nation in the world. With football running through everyone’s veins, and their previous success in international competitions, Argentina has always been a footballing-mad nation. However, part of that means that there’s immense division between football clubs when playing in the domestic league, with Boca Juniors and River Plate being the notable case.
Boca Juniors and River Plate are bitter rivals, yet when the national team plays, fans that support different teams come together and display their passion for Argentina. For example, during one of Argentina’s crucial World Cup qualifiers, the match was moved to La Bombonera, even though it wasn’t the biggest stadium, the team played there just so the fans can make the most noise. All in all, Argentinians are very passionate about their country’s football, and because of that, football continues to be one of the most impactful ways of bringing people together.
Peru
When it was announced that Peru would be playing in an intercontinental playoff match against New Zealand, the domestic league was closed just so players had more time to prepare. While it seems odd that the league was suspended just so the national team could prepare for a match against minnows New Zealand, when you consider that they haven’t made it to the World Cup for a long time, than your opinion probably changes. Peru love football. Peruvians live, breath, and worship football. Similar to Argentines, Brazilians, and other South American football fans, they love the sport and will offer they’re unconditional support for the national team. Their victory over New Zealand had so much significance that the next day was declared a national holiday, a day that will be celebrated in the years to come as the day that Peru qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Peru may not be the best at football, but they’re certainly one of the most passionate fans in the World Cup and hold football at a very high level. When it was announced that Peruvian star striker Paolo Guerrero will be missing the World Cup because of a failed drug test, many Peruvians fled to the streets to protest against the decision. Guerrero is arguably one of Peru’s best players, and if there’s one player that deserves to be at the World Cup, it’s him. But, this is not about whether Guerrero should be going to the World Cup or not, but in fact that support that Peruvians have for Guerrero and going to the extreme that there’s protests on the streets.
Portugal
Whether it’s referee bribes, ultras attacking players, and other scandals, the Portuguese league is never shy from some drama and conflict. However, even though Benfica, Porto, and Sporting fans all hate each other, when the national team plays, everyone comes together to support.
But why is it all so significant? Because considering the amount of scandals and conflicts that occur in Portuguese football, it requires a lot for fans to settle their differences and support the national team. And because of that, this is why Portugal is on this list, because football has proven to be an impactful way to bring people together.
Egypt
It seems odd that a nation like Egypt are on this list, after all they’re not the best at football. Yet, football has proven to be a great way to united people in Egypt. With the likes of Mohamed Salah playing abroad, Egyptians feel very proud of their countrymen’s achievements, and for a nation that’s faced a lot of conflict, football has been a way to escape the political and national conflicts.
Even when political elections come up Egypt, many voted for Mohamed Salah, a footballer and not a politician. What this just further proves is that in Egypt, people value and worship footballers more than politicians.
What makes the World Cup special apart from the football is the fans, and the fans play a pivotal role when it comes to supporting the team. All in all, what can be concluded is that football has such a huge impact in so many countries of uniting people together and helping escape from the issues of reality.
