Soccer: The Ties That Bind
World Cup will draw record audience
STEVE BOHRN
The Stanley Cup, World Series, and Super Bowl are all huge sporting events. But none of these can lay claim to the world’s ultimate sporting exhibition.
Every four years, the top soccer teams from around the world converge on a chosen country to play down in the most highly-anticipated, highly-touted and highly-watched tournament in sports, bar none. And the world will watch.
This year’s FIFA World Cup is being played in various venues in Germany from June 9 until July 9.
While the total viewership of the World Cup is impossible to accurately gauge, it is estimated that an unbelievable two billion people will tune in to watch the final match from the Berlin Olympiastadion on July 9.
People will watch the game anywhere they can, from massive street parties in Brazil to tiny pubs filled to the gills in England.
In Canada, soccer hotspots can be found in European sports bars, as well as many popular restaurants and lounges.
“I will be watching some of the games in some bars downtown, but most of them I will watch at home because they are at such an early time,” said Danikka Holmstrom, a secondyear science student who will be cheering for Sweden, where her family immigrated from 20 years ago.
Holmstrom is typical of the World Cup fan base in North America. Many fans will make their way to their favorite little establishment to enjoy the ambiance of the game.
“Soccer is much more relaxing than other sports like hockey or football. The games are a little slower-paced, but are still exciting enough. I watch because I love (David) Beckham,” said Jenna Smith, a university one student.
Soccer is undergoing a major resurgence in North America. In the past few years, there have been a number of players from Canada and the United States that have made breakthroughs in professional leagues in Europe. These include Brian McBride with English side Everton and Tim Howard with Manchester United.
These breakthroughs have brought far more viewers into the fold, and have also contributed greatly to the youth and development leagues around the continent that are going to produce the next bright stars.
These leagues have seen their numbers increase exponentially in receent years, and in many areas in Canada soccer has even over taken hockey as the sport of choice among active youth. Enrolment in youth soccer, ages 8-14 in Canada has more than doubled in the past 10 years.
Many suggest this increased popularity is attributable to the lower equipment costs and less violent atmosphere associated with soccer. Many people (in Canada) have grown tired of hockey, and as a result, soccer’s popularity has been on the rise.
But North America is not the only place where soccer is all the rage. In places like Brazil and many countries in Africa where soccer has always been popular, the people play because it is often the only sport that they can afford to play.
All that is really needed to play soccer is a ball. And in many countries people believe in soccer “gods.”
Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho is perhaps the epitome of this phenomenon. Regarded by many as “the” elite soccer player in the world right now, he is known and idolized around the globe for his quick feet and amazing knowledge of the game and his teammates.
The Brazilian side that he leads in World Cup 2006 is heavily-favored to win, and if they do manage to do this and repeat their performance from 2002, Ronaldinho’s fame will skyrocket ever higher.
They will have a tough time however, as competition is tight. Teams like Portugal, England, Germany, Holland, Italy and many others all have a legitimate shot. This years’ field may produce the most exciting finish of any tournament yet seen.
Whatever the end result, the tournament is guaranteed to bring you to the edge of your seat at any moment. So join the rest of the two billion fans watching, and see what all the fuss is about.
