Craze of Football, Identity, and the Global Game!

Football carries immense political and symbolic significance. Its global diffusion has enabled cultures and nations to construct and express particular identities through how they interpret and engage with the sport. As Richard Giulianotti notes in Football: Sociology of the Global Game, football is far more than just a pastime—it is a mirror of society, reflecting power, politics, pride, and passion.

Now, I must confess, I’m not exactly swept up by the full drama of football’s whims—not in the obsessive sense, at least. But this year’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa has stirred something unique. It has revealed sides of people—emotions and quirks—that many of us hadn’t seen before. This includes not just everyday fans, but even high-profile figures from the political arena who adjusted their calendars to catch their national teams in action.

As many would agree, football is a magical force. The energy, emotion, and sheer magnetism of the game draw millions into its orbit. We’ve all seen it first hand: otherwise composed and rational people (yes, even people like myself) transform into bundles of nerves—scowling at rival fans, banging tables, fidgeting restlessly, erupting in cheers, forging friendships over a single goal, or walking around with a kind of quiet triumph when their team wins. There are even tales of people chewing cigarettes they meant to smoke😅

This year’s tournament has been particularly memorable. One of the striking elements was the active participation of world leaders who reshuffled their schedules—even during global deliberations like the G20 Summit—just to support their teams. It seemed perfectly natural, even expected. After all, when it’s your country playing, national emotions soar.

Interestingly, football means different things depending on where you are. In countries with strong regional or local identities, fans have a more intimate, rooted relationship with the sport. Elsewhere, the connection may be more national or even global. But at the heart of it all, football remains—at least in theory—just a sport, where victory and defeat are built into the rules of the game.

Another notable development has been the visible rise of gender equity among fans. While football has long been considered a masculine domain—particularly in our part of the world—this World Cup has shown a different picture. We’ve seen women cheering, analyzing, and emotionally investing in their teams, right alongside the men. In some cases, the support was even dramatic—such as the much-publicized "motivational offer" by a Paraguayan model. While controversial, it shows the evolving presence of women in what was once considered an all-boys' club.

Yet, perhaps the most surprising trend has been the underperformance of star players. Many renowned athletes, who regularly shine in European clubs, struggled to bring that same brilliance to their national teams. Gone, it seems, are the days when national colors, collective effort, and patriotic fervor alone could propel a team to victory.

Why? One possible explanation is the deep impact of globalization on football. Today, players are more bonded to their clubs than their countries. Club teams—multinational in makeup, with coaches and players drawn from across continents—offer prestige, structure, and a different kind of loyalty. As a result, for many top athletes, the club has become the true stage for their talent.

Personally, I find something encouraging in this shift. In a world moving beyond narrow nationalism, perhaps the globalization of football reflects a broader cultural evolution—one that values cooperation, diversity, and mutual admiration over nationalist rivalry.

As someone once pointed out: “Who would have predicted thirty years ago that British soccer fans would cheer for a London team full of Africans, Latin Americans, and Spaniards—coached by a Frenchman? Or that the national English team would be managed by an Italian?” To that, I would add: who could have imagined that the World Cup would one day be hosted in an African country?

Whether the 2010 World Cup’s staging in South Africa is the cause or the result of football’s global transformation is unclear. But one thing is certain: football has changed. It has become more global, more inclusive, and more complex.

And in that, perhaps, lies its greatest strength.