Week 7

While the FIFA World Cup has been considered an event for the sports world, it can also be considered an important reflection of the history, politics, and identity of the world. As Bowman explains in “The World Cup as World History,” the tournament mirrors nationalism, colonial legacies, and global inequality (Bowman, 2020) The World Cup is not only an event for the world’s best sportsmen, but it is also an important reflection of the way the world’s countries show their pride, power, and conflicts, all based on the history of the countries themselves. The World Cup is an important tool for the forces of history to shape the modern world through the eyes of its global audience.

Dubois (2018) describes an example of African descent players and their opposition to the traditional concept of European identity. The players, like Mamadou Sakho or Romelu Lukaku, symbolize multicultural countries that were created as a consequence of colonial migrations. Moreover, FIFA (2012) describes an example of how a colonial player of Mozambican descent became an icon of Portuguese football history. This is an example of how colonial descent is used in modern national teams, as Bowman suggests. Their presence in the global arena leads countries to wonder which players symbolize their countries and evoke national identity in the post-colonial world. I have observed that players often symbolize broader social discourses about identity and citizenship.

 Another aspect is presented in Phillips (2014), which discusses commercialization and political influences in Brazil. Pelé is the face of globalization, while Garrincha represents authenticity and joy. This relates to Bowman’s work on globalization and power, demonstrating how heroes in football are subject to both national and capitalist ideologies. These images collectively demonstrate how the World Cup can transform individuals into icons of the struggle between culture, politics, and economics.

To conclude, the world cup is a competition which brings together race, politics, capitalism and national identity in some significant observable ways. It poses some of the most basic questions where the whole world is united by the World Cup and here it also focuses on the imbalances which are present. Such a wide outlook on football suggests a new look at the game itself.