soccer
The Mirror of the World Cup
Foreign soccer fans fell in love with America during the World Cup, from Boston to Lawrence, Kansas. Americans, in turn, loved watching the viral videos those visitors made about their adventures here. What might Americans learn about their own country from this summer romance?
Soccer and War
When Argentina and England square off in the World Cup, it is much more than a game of soccer — it unearths a long history between the two nations and conjures the ghosts of the 1982 Falklands war. That history weighs heavily on Argentines.
Latin American Fans Are Turning Their Backs on Argentina
In Qatar 2022, Argentina could count on the support of the rest of the region. This time the tide has turned, with many rooting against their neighbor.
Sports and Legitimacy in Eastern Libya
As Benghazi hosts European soccer giants and boxing celebrities, Khalifa Haftar’s regime in eastern Libya is betting on sports and reconstruction to win over Libyans and the West.
What Jude Bellingham Reveals About England
The outrage over a display of frustration by England soccer star Jude Bellingham on the pitch continues a long-standing British discomfort with Black brilliance, exposing how soccer remains a battleground for national anxieties about race and belonging.
Africa May Be on the Cusp of a Soccer Golden Age
For decades, African soccer has been caught between immense natural talent and broken systems of governance and funding. But a convergence of changes — new leadership, diaspora players returning to their roots, Morocco’s World Cup success and grassroots investment — could tip the continent into a golden era.
What Happens to the World Cup When the World Can’t Attend?
There are growing concerns that Trump’s immigration policies could prevent both players and fans from traveling to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and the 2026 World Cup, both to be hosted in the U.S., raising broader questions about access to major sporting events.