Three Atlantic staffers discuss tricky questions of national—and international—allegiance in sports, after the victory for Les Bleus, which some called “the last African team.”
The argument that the female champions can draw big crowds only during World Cup years doesn’t consider the lacking investment from their governing body.
Belgium’s elimination from the World Cup showed that sometimes, for no apparent reason, the ball just won’t go in.
As the United States and the Netherlands prepare to face off, teams and fans wonder whether VAR—or instant-replay reviews—will decide the champion.
England’s game is America’s, for now. But the Qatar World Cup shows that no undisputed set of values can unite us all.
The globalization of soccer has distanced players from national fan bases—which is why the World Cup provokes such identity crises