The World Cup is a fantastic global event that unites people and gives the sport of football a deeper and more significant meaning that transcends the sport itself. And that is a good thing, because taken on its own, the sport of football can be alarmingly devoid of honor (how do those overpaid actors sleep at night?). But the international nature of the sport – anyone with a ball can learn to play – makes it the great equalizer. On the pitch, especially during the World Cup, any team can conceivably beat any other team. But what I find so refreshing about the World Cup is not the football itself, but rather the people of each country who join together to support their team and their country. The tears you see on television when a country crashes out of the tournament are very real and represent the collective grief of an entire nation that has invested so much emotionally during a very short period of time.
I look at these passionate supporters with a mix of sadness and joy. Here is why.
I hold 4 citizenships. My wife adds another citizenship to our family, further splitting my allegiances and diluting any sense of nationality I might have. Holding so many citizenships has its appeal of course, and drawbacks such as tax complications, military service and never-ending passport renewals are a worthy trade-off, in my mind. But the biggest drawback is one that I can never eliminate, even if I renounced 3 of my 4 citizenships. My heart will forever be torn. I will never cry for a country that crashes out of the World Cup. I will never feel part of something bigger, something that binds a nation together.
Yet, every four years, I am oddly drawn to the World Cup. I put my misgivings about the sport aside and marvel at the unity and passion shown by countries around the world. When a small country like Ghana advances deeper into the tournament and becomes a continent’s sole remaining hope, I cannot help but feel a sense of excitement for the country and its people. I get a sudden urge to travel to these countries and share the moment with them. While I will never cry for a country, I certainly feel the joy that is felt by its people. This isn’t bandwagon hopping because I am never on a wagon to begin with. Rather, like a traveler, I am simply an observer who picks a destination to travel to where there is hope, joy and happiness.
