Soccer embodies an array of values around the world. For some, it is a “safe” and healthy game, full of orange slices, minivans, and parents watching on the sidelines from their lawn chairs. For others, it is a matter of life and death. Wear the wrong colors and it may cost you your life. In some societies, the sport is tied to ethnic, religious, class, or racial identities. Soccer can also be an almost-exclusively hyper-masculine social arena. And, in the case of countries like Argentina, it is followed with even more devotion and passion than organized religion.
We open HIS 3538 with a preview of the 2026 FIFAWorld Cup, followed by a survey of soccer’s early history in North America. The unit ends with a look back at the most recent World Cups on North American soil: the 1970, 1986 and 1994 editions. The readings selected are just a sample of how journalists and scholars analyze soccer through an academic lens. This introductory unit sets the stage for deeper analysis in the run up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States!
Topics to Discuss
- Syllabus & Guiding Document; Website; Messi, Son, and MLS; FIFA and the 2026 World Cup [Jan 13 & 15]
- Origins of soccer in the United States; Billion Dollar Goal documentary [Jan 20 & 22]
- Previous World Cups in North America: 1970 Mexico, 1986 Mexico, and 1994 United States; Billion Dollar Goal documentary. [Jan 27 & 29]
- Check out our class summaries for Week 03!
