Every four years, the World Cup happens and it takes place this summer in June. People suddenly start to care more about soccer when the time comes around and you hear them talking about teams and players. Back in 2022, the World Cup was held in November during the school months and students would have their chromebooks open watching any game they could during classtime. The World Cup isn’t just about soccer, but it brings people together to watch and enjoy the largest sporting event in the world.
For people that already enjoy soccer, the World Cup is a big deal. It’s the biggest stage possible, with the best players from different countries competing against each other. These players aren’t just playing for themselves but for their countries.
But even if people don’t care for soccer it’s hard to ignore the World Cup. It’s everywhere, on social media, on TV, and people are always talking about it. Because it falls every four years, it feels more important than just a regular sports season. It’s more of something that people don’t want to miss.
The location of the World Cup also matters. Each time it is played it takes place in a different country and for the first time since 1994, the World Cup is in the United States. People then get to learn about the culture, food, and traditions in that country. Hosting a World Cup can also be a pain as it costs a lot of money to produce such a large sporting event across many different cities in the US. It also brings a lot of attention to cities meaning: tourists.
“Knowing the games are happening right in Kansas City feels different. Usually, we’re waking up early to watch the games, but now it’s coming to us.” said senior Lucah Sekle.
Even though the hype around the World Cup is real, there is the pain part of hosting. Hosting this prestigious tournament costs billions of dollars. Since the US is so big, the teams have to fly back and forth across different time zones just to get to their next game. For those who live near the host cities, the traffic is going to be a total disaster. People trying to get to work or practices will deal with hundreds of thousands of tourists blocking the streets wondering where to go. For the locals, it’s a massive boost to their income to help pay for community services. While it is a lot to deal with for about two months, it’s worth it in the long run.
Another important part of the World Cup is the sense of community and pride it brings to countries and fans. People will be wearing jerseys and gathering with family and friends to watch games. Even schools and workplaces get caught up with the excitement of the games, constantly turning to scores, predictions, and favorite players.
“I remember back in freshman year when my teacher would turned on the USA versus Whales game while we were in school,” said senior Jack Olson. “Christian Pulisic scored the opening goal and the whole class started cheering.”
The World Cup also brings unforgettable moments in sports history. In 2022 Kylian Mbappe was the first player to ever score a hat-trick in a final and Lionnel Messi completed history by claiming his first ever World Cup win. These moments that take place are talked about for years to come, hoping the next World Cup is as good as the last one. They inspire young athletes around the world to dream about these moments, playing the lucky ones to play on the same stage.
Whether or not teams are competing for pride and glory for their country, the World Cup is more than just a soccer tournament, it brings cultures together through a shared passion for the sport. Even with its challenges, it remains one of the most anticipated and celebrated events in the world every four years.
