Photo Credit: Manu Fernandez

A Blog Post by Eboni N. Walker & Ean R. Walker, Contributor

Soccer, called football in most countries, is the world’s most popular sport. While people have played games like soccer for hundreds of years, the modern version of the sport was developed in England during the 1800s. In the 1870s, England and Scotland were the first countries to organize national teams. Soccer’s worldwide impact was recognized in 1908 when it became an official Olympic sport; The first tournament took place in Uruguay in 1930, where the host country defeated Argentina 4–2 to become the first World Cup champion. Back then, only 13 invited teams competed in that first tournament.  Today, soccer has grown into a global sport, with more than 200 national teams competing to qualify, and 48 teams earning a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

One reason soccer is so special is because it belongs to everyone. People of all races, cultures, languages, and backgrounds play the game. Unlike many sports that have been associated with certain groups of people, soccer has always been a sport that connects communities across the world. Whether children are playing in a neighborhood park or professional athletes are competing in a packed stadium, the game creates opportunities for teamwork, friendship, and respect.

Although the U.S. Men’s National Team is no longer competing, there is still plenty of excitement as the tournament reaches its final matches. The world’s best teams continue to compete for the championship, bringing together millions of fans from every corner of the globe. While the 2022 Super Bowl attracted about 167 million viewers worldwide, the 2022 FIFA World Cup final reached an estimated 1.5 billion viewers. More than 5 billion people followed the tournament throughout the month-long event (FIFA, 2023). These numbers show that soccer is more than just a sport—it is a shared experience enjoyed by people around the world.

Every four years during the World Cup, fans celebrate not only their favorite teams but also the joy of the game itself. As K’NAAN sings in the 2010 World Cup anthem Wavin’ Flag, “Let’s rejoice in the beautiful game.” Those words remind us that soccer has the power to bring people together, all over the world, to create memories and to celebrate the beautiful game…soccer matters!