How Soccer Explains the World

have you ever wondered why soccer, more than any other sport, captivates the hearts and minds of billions of people around the globe? it’s not just the thrill of competition or the passion of the fans; soccer is a mirror reflecting the interplay of cultural, economic, and political forces that shape our world. 

in this chapter, we’ll embark on a globe-trotting tour through the soccer stadiums, back alleys, and suburban fields of humanity’s favorite sport. we’ll be diving into diverse societies, from the favelas of brazil to the sophisticated boulevards of europe and the politically charged stadiums of iran, revealing how this global phenomenon influences and is influenced by societal conditions. as we’ll see, whether addressing ethnic conflicts, class warfare, or globalization, soccer offers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing challenges.

in the 1990s, as the world embraced globalization, soccer fans experienced a shift firsthand from their living rooms. with rupert murdoch’s sky acquiring tv rights to the english premier league, suddenly fans in north america could cheer for european teams from thousands of miles away. soccer had become a truly global spectacle, illustrating the tangible effects of globalization through the universal language of sport.

this period also marked significant changes in the soccer labor market. previously, the movement of players was highly regulated by national boundaries. for example, consider pelé, brazil's legendary soccer icon. at the peak of his career, when juventus – a powerhouse in european soccer from italy – made an offer for him, the brazilian government intervened. they passed a law preventing him from transferring overseas, essentially declaring pelé a national treasure too precious to export.

by the nineties, though, those restrictions had loosened. the deregulation of the soccer labor market led to an explosion in the number of foreign players in leagues across europe. by 2010, the english premier league was home to close to 300 foreign players, accounting for two-thirds of all players. other leagues saw similar trends: in germany’s top league, the bundesliga, about half of the players were from abroad; in spain’s top flight, la liga, the figure stood around 40 percent. it wasn’t uncommon for a traditionally english team like chelsea to field a lineup composed entirely of international players, or for nigerian players to find themselves at shakhtar donetsk, a ukrainian club rooted in the soviet coal industry. 

these changes mirrored broader global trends spurred by cheaper travel, the rise of the internet, and a wave of new trade agreements. as markets connected more seamlessly than ever before, soccer showcased new developments on the green pitch. the sport not only mirrored the world’s increasing interconnectedness but also highlighted the cultural and economic exchanges shaping our contemporary landscape. soccer’s evolution through the 1990s and beyond offers a compelling lens through which to view the dynamic, ongoing process of globalization – a game truly reflecting the world’s coming together.

in são paulo, brazil, soccer is more than just a game – it’s a representation of community and identity. each club in the city mirrors a distinct demographic. portuguese immigrants have their own club, as do italian immigrants, the working class, and the elite. this isn’t a brazilian phenomenon: clubs representing specific community identities is a common theme across soccer nations globally. fans support these teams as extensions of their community identities, tied to geography, class, ethnicity, or religion.

according to commentators like thomas friedman, globalization was supposed to dilute these kinds of intense local identities, promoting a supra-national mentality that transcended traditional geographic boundaries. these kinds of thinkers suggested that as the world became more interconnected through economic integration, nationalistic sentiments would wane, replaced by a broader, more inclusive kinship. that’s not how things panned out. 

take the city of glasgow – the scottish home of two of the world’s fiercest soccer rivals, celtic and rangers. the club’s sporting enmity maps onto much older historical and sectarian divisions. rooted in working-class catholic communities, many of them from ireland, celtic has a distinct political identity: it is pro-irish reunification and anti-royalist. rangers also has a political identity, as a traditionally conservative, anti-reunification, and royalist club representing glasgow’s protestants. 

celtic and rangers have adapted to globalization. both clubs have modernized. they now recruit globally and no longer enforce religious recruitment policies. on the surface, it seems business interests – winning trophies and expanding market reach – have overshadowed old prejudices. and yet, the clubs continue to play into historical divides for the simple reason that it’s profitable. rangers, for instance, sell orange jerseys and play songs known to incite anti-catholic sentiments among fans. 

this manipulation of sectarian sentiment is a calculated business strategy, as it continues to engage a fan base that identifies with such traditional tribal allegiances. it also makes for the kind of spectacle that draws in international fans: few games in europe can rival the celtic-rangers derby for pure drama and emotion. for clubs in the scottish league, which isn’t exactly known for its sporting prowess, that’s a huge boon.  

tribalism, then, has become entangled with globalized commercial capitalism. but the persistence of us-versus-them identities also illustrates a broader phenomenon. as globalization homogenizes culture, many people feel a loss of connection to traditional identities, leading them to cling more fiercely to more exclusive ones. this backlash against the broad sweeps of globalization can be seen in the enduring and intense rivalry between celtic and rangers, which highlights how global forces can sometimes reinforce rather than dissolve historical divisions. 

the historical home of soccer is undoubtedly england, where the game was invented and codified. but for many fans, brazil is the sport’s spiritual home. brazilians, it’s often said, play the game with greater panache than any other nationality. at their feet, soccer becomes o jogo bonito, “the beautiful game.” 

but for all its self-evident qualities, brazilian soccer has long been in crisis. in the age of globalization, brazil’s domestic clubs are increasingly becoming so-called “feeder clubs.” these clubs excel at spotting and developing local talent, but they rarely retain their best players.

this problem is exacerbated by the organizational chaos within brazil's top soccer leagues. corruption is widespread, with club owners and league managers often colluding. rules are frequently manipulated, allowing a handful of teams to dominate competitions and share the spoils among themselves. such disarray not only stymies the development of the sport but also ensures that the best players look abroad for better opportunities.

optimists used to believe that global economic integration would bring transparency and efficiency to brazilian soccer by attracting international capital. it was thought that foreign investors, demanding clear accounts and good governance, would help cleanse the system. 

but it hasn’t worked out that way. take the club vasco da gama and its former president eurico miranda. miranda, while embezzling millions from the club, maintained his immunity from prosecution through his simultaneous role as a member of parliament. his dual roles meant he could use the soccer club’s popularity to secure his parliamentary seat, while his parliamentary seat shielded him from legal repercussions.

this glaring example of corruption shows that the influx of international capital alone is not enough to reform entrenched inefficiencies and corrupt practices. despite the hopes that globalization and the accompanying flow of foreign money would usher in a new era of transparency and professionalism, the reality has been quite different. many international investors, discouraged by the pervasive corruption and instability, have retracted their investments after brief forays into the brazilian market.

the case of brazilian soccer underscores a critical lesson: globalization can promote transparency and drive profits, but it is not a panacea. without the foundation of a strong rule of law, transparency alone cannot attract sustainable investment or effect significant change. meanwhile, talented players continue to migrate to leagues where their skills are most valued and where governance structures are more robust, leaving brazilian clubs in a perpetual cycle of talent export. the result is the underdevelopment of one of the nation’s greatest cultural products. 

when the shah of iran assumed power in 1941, he launched an ambitious campaign to modernize the country, embracing western fashion like suits and ties, and promoting western sports, especially soccer. the government went so far as to repurpose mosque properties into soccer fields, positioning the sport as a symbol of modernity and progress. this move sparked outrage among religious leaders, particularly due to the attire of soccer players, whose uniforms featured shorts that exposed players’ thighs.

the shah’s efforts were abruptly halted by the 1979 islamic revolution, led by ayatollah khomeini, which saw a sharp reversal in policies. the new regime restored the soccer fields to the mosques and actively discouraged the sport, challenging the populace with rhetorical questions about the relevance of sports amid unresolved political, economic, and cultural crises.

despite these efforts, the iranian public’s love for soccer persisted. the sport continued to serve as a platform for change, demonstrating a blend of tradition and modern influence. players adapted by covering their thighs, but still maintained a modern appearance with clean-shaven faces and long hair, achieving global recognition. icons like david beckham, with his western appeal and superstar status, further influenced iranian society, symbolizing the broader cultural shifts underway.

soccer’s impact reached a crescendo during the “football revolution” of 1997. this was a pivotal moment following a significant victory by iran over australia in the world cup qualifiers, led by a foreign, non-muslim coach. the victory unleashed widespread celebrations across iran, which notably included many women publicly removing their head coverings and celebrating alongside men – a bold act of defiance against the regime’s restrictive laws.

as male fans celebrated after the match, thousands of women flocked to azadi stadium, where they were initially denied entry. their persistent protests led to the admission of 3,000 women into a segregated section of the stadium. however, the exclusion of about 2,000 others did not quell the fervor; those left outside broke through the gates, compelling the police to eventually allow them entry and avoid further conflict.

this event, now referred to as the “football revolution,” not only highlighted the transformative power of soccer in iran but also underscored the broader potential of cultural activities to challenge and reshape societal norms. this revolution marked a significant moment in middle eastern history, illustrating how a sport like soccer can become a catalyst for social change, offering a counterpoint to traditionalist views and promoting a more inclusive, forward-looking perspective.

soccer in the us dances to a different beat than the rest of the world, where it roots deeply in working-class traditions. in the us, it’s embraced by the middle class, particularly on the coasts, where liberal values from the 1960s still shape attitudes towards sport. soccer became the go-to for parents who frowned upon the violence of american football, the competitive spotlight on individual players in baseball, and basketball’s association with inner-city life. soccer, with its emphasis on team play and perceived gentleness, aligned perfectly with a more cosmopolitan, peace-loving approach.

this association has led to a cultural clash within the us itself. the working class often views soccer with suspicion, seeing the middle class’s adoption of the game as a turn away from traditional american sports like baseball and football – sports that are seen as emblematic of american culture and values. the image of soccer fans as middle-class, french-cheese-eating, anti-war activists watching european matches in barcelona jerseys only fuels these divisions. soccer, for many, isn’t just a sport but a statement, and not necessarily a unifying one.

on a larger scale, soccer’s global nature chafes against american notions of exceptionalism. governed by international rules and organizations akin to the united nations or the world trade organization, soccer symbolizes a universal standard that runs counter to the belief in the us making its own rules. for those who see the us as above international influence, soccer represents a subtle threat – an international law sneaking through the back door.

soccer also gets caught up in the whirlwind of globalization debates. as multinational corporations like nike and budweiser push the sport, soccer becomes a symbol of global culture penetrating american traditions. this mirrors wider concerns that echo around the world, such as in france where the spread of mcdonald’s sparks protests for encroaching on local cuisine. in the us, the fear is that soccer, as a global sport, might overshadow beloved national pastimes such as baseball.

the tension around soccer in the us highlights deeper currents of globalization and cultural identity. it’s not just about sports; it’s about how the us sees itself and its place in the world. as multinational influences reshape economies and cultures globally, they also reshape the american landscape, challenging the nation to reckon with its identity in a world where borders are less clear, and cultural exchange is constant.

in this chapter to how soccer explains the world by franklin foer, you’ve learned that soccer reflects global social dynamics. in the 1990s, it showcased globalization’s influence through its broadening international fan bases and diverse player rosters. but the sport also reveals how local identities persist amidst global influences, as seen in enduring tribal rivalries between clubs like celtic and rangers. although the sport is now thoroughly globalized, it still interacts in unique ways with particular societies: in the us, it’s a cultural litmus test; in iran, by contrast, it’s a stand-in for modernizing liberal reform. 

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