Well, it’s over. And as addicted as I’ve been to the World Cup since I became aware of it as a kid, I have to say, this was probably the best World Cup I’ve ever seen. The level of play. The drama. The close games. The combination of stadiums used across three countries… (How cool were those games at the Azteca?) All of it was absolutely riveting.
I was fortunate to attend the Norway vs. Iraq game with my family and get to feel a bit of the magic in person. It was electric. And, well, magical. Not only because of the artistry we witnessed from a beautifully orchestrated goal or because of the incredible singing and rally chants delivered by each team’s fans, but because there was a peace in the air shared by all who attended. A collective enthusiasm for love of country and soccer, bonding everyone together in mutual admiration. When soccer is played on such a grand stage, there is a sense that even though everyone wants their team to win, there is a respect for the other side’s fans knowing that they too, recognize how wonderful the game of soccer actually is.
As I walked around Gillette Stadium watching Iraqi and Norwegian fans smile and cheer, it was hard to imagine a similar scene at, say, a Patriots vs. Jets game. The lasting images I have of every Patriots game I’ve ever attended is of guys throwing beers at each other and telling each other to “Go fawk yourself,” and that’s just Patriots fans yelling at each other. Nevermind the vitriol that’s spit when a Jets fan shows up shouting, ” J—E—T—S! JETS! JETS! JETS!” That’s the NFL version of throwing chum into shark infested waters. If you were to walk around Gillette Stadium when the Jets were visiting and see people smiling and singing like they do at a World Cup game, you’d wonder if you walked into some sort of bizarro version of reality.
Perhaps it’s because there are ninety meditative minutes in soccer where it’s possible to watch an entire game where not a single goal is scored. Or maybe it’s because without the ability to use hands, the aggression of athletes and fans alike is tempered. Even when a guy gets clipped in the ankles and the victim goes rolling across the pitch like a Neymar meme, most of the fans roll their eyes or smile, knowing there is a bit of play-acting going on. Whatever it is that causes World Cup games to be so peaceful, so joyful, so… illuminating about seeing other countries and cultures as different versions of ourselves, my only regret about it is that it only happens every four years. Because for the past month the World Cup tournament has felt more like the World Peace tournament, and who doesn’t want more of that?
Now it could be because it only happens every four years that it feels so special, peaceful and beautiful all at once. And we’ve all heard the stories about the English hooligans and their antics, so it’s not like the sport of soccer is inherently peaceful. But how can we capture more of the World Cup spirit in the States and everywhere else in the world, year-round? How can we build the fervor? The passion? The peace? Admittedly, I haven’t been to a professional soccer game in the states because without someone like Lionel Messi or Trinity Rodman playing near enough to my home, I haven’t gotten the energy to head down to Gillette and deal with Foxboro’s godforsaken traffic. But maybe I will. Or maybe I’ll adopt a college soccer team closer to home to root for. I have a few friends who do that and maybe that’s the ticket. Franklin Pierce and SNHU are great programs, and there’s UNH and Dartmouth of course. Or maybe I’ll attend my alma mater’s games on the pitch. Boston College isn’t as far as Foxboro and is a little easier to find parking. I don’t know. Give me a team New Hampshire! Let’s do this! I’m ready!
Wouldn’t New Hampshire be the perfect location for a professional soccer team? I’ve heard whisperings of one happening but don’t know much about it yet. If it’s true, I think they are on target. Doesn’t it feel like soccer is the right sport to draw in a crowd in New Hampshire without having to compete with the Boston sports teams? Most New Hampshire residents enjoy watching sports, but we don’t enjoy Boston traffic or paying exorbitant fees to a Celtics game where everyone is more interested in snapping a selfie than watching the team. So let’s do this New Hampshire. Give me something. Anything. I need something to wear my Barcelona FC scarf to and watch fans cheer for the game instead of the downfall of their enemy—to give me a slice of the peace we’ve witnessed this past month. To shout, “ROO! ROO!” and row my arms, even if nobody from Norway is playing. I need spirit! I need smiles! I need artistry to root for!
Because that’s what truly makes it the beautiful game.