Football: More Than Just a Game

"Football is just 90 minutes of chasing a ball," many might say. But come World Cup season, we're all reminded how that "simple" ball can truly transform the world and stir the emotions of countless people.

Every four years, the FIFA World Cup descends upon us, an event so massive it captivates over half the global population. It's more than just a sport; it's a grand spectacle where politics, economics, culture, and society intertwine. The 2026 World Cup, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the first time, promises to be the largest in history. With 48 nations competing, it's set to be a stage for an unprecedented mix of emotions.

How Does the World Cup Move the World?

1. The World Connects Through a Single Screen

• The 2022 Qatar World Cup final garnered approximately 1.7 billion live viewers.
• FIFA's total broadcasting rights revenue hit an astonishing $4.2 billion.
• The #WorldCupFinal hashtag on social media amassed over 400 million views in just 48 hours.

These figures are unparalleled by any other content on Earth. Not even the American Super Bowl or the Eurovision Song Contest can compare. Football is the only cultural phenomenon that can simultaneously bring the planet to a halt.

2. Football is Power

The relationship between politics and football is far deeper and older than you might imagine.

• 1934 Italy: Mussolini leveraged the World Cup to legitimize his Fascist regime, and FIFA remained silent.
• 1978 Argentina: The military dictatorship used the World Cup to fuel nationalistic fervor and quiet international criticism. The team won, but a tragic shadow of 30,000 disappeared citizens loomed beneath the surface.
• 2018 Russia and 2022 Qatar: Leaders in both nations strategically utilized the World Cup to enhance their country's branding.
• 2002 South Korea: Co-hosting the World Cup as the first Asian nation, South Korea's "Miracle of the Semifinals" and national unity that summer didn't just showcase good football; it rewrote the country's identity.

3. The Economy Races Toward the Goal

The World Cup is a battleground for capital.

• 2022 Qatar invested approximately $220 billion in infrastructure, building a "World Cup city in the desert."
• The 2026 North American World Cup, spanning 16 cities, anticipates over 60 million tourists.
• FIFA's revenue is projected to exceed $10 billion.

And this is just the beginning. From betting markets and sponsorships to digital broadcasting rights, NFT tickets, and AR/VR streaming, the World Cup serves as a laboratory and showroom for every capital structure imaginable.

A Melting Pot of Culture: The World Cup

The World Cup is a global cultural festival. From national cheering styles and attire to instruments, street cheering, and football anthems, the World Cup is a massive cultural encyclopedia in itself.

• Brazil showcases its culture with samba,
• Senegal with drums and dance,
• South Korea with red shirts and orderly street cheering.

In 2002, South Korea astonished the world. Global media, observing the streets of Seoul along the Han River, Gwanghwamun Plaza, and Suwon World Cup Stadium filled with cheering citizens, remarked, "South Korea was not just an IT powerhouse, but a nation of passion."

Football is a Microcosm of Human Emotion

Joy, anger, sorrow, elation, anticipation, anxiety – a single football match displays the entire spectrum of human emotions. It's a collective emotional simulation, functioning simultaneously as an emotional training ground for modern people.

Especially the World Cup transcends mere emotion, becoming an indelible memory.

• The summer of 2002, shouting for the first time with someone in the square.
• The dawn of 2010, everyone crying together at Park Ji-sung's goal.
• The moment in 2022, when Son Heung-min's pass and Hwang Hee-chan's goal secured a spot in the Round of 16.

We weren't just watching football; we were experiencing ourselves within those moments.

And, 2026…

The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest stage yet:

• Introduction of the 48-nation format.
• Joint hosting by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
• Construction of a future-oriented sports environment with AI-based tactical analysis, metaverse broadcasting, and sustainable stadiums.

However, the essence of the World Cup will never change. Football will continue to stir our emotions, shake nations, and orchestrate civilizations.

THE M ASKS:

• Why do we eagerly await the World Cup?
• Will football transcend borders, or will it create new barriers?
• What story will we write in 2026?