I grew up in a huge soccer family (although we, of course, call it football), so it’s no surprise my spring break was spent going to matches and visiting stadiums. I attended a Los Angeles FC match and an Arsenal F.C. match and toured Stamford Bridge and London Stadium. The level of passion I witnessed from the fans throughout these experiences was truly insane and left me with a greater appreciation for the widespread love of soccer. 

I truly believe the environment at soccer matches surpasses that of any other sport. What’s so special is that this level of thrill and excitement is global — it was equally there at the BMO Stadium during the LAFC match against Sporting Kansas City.

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This isn’t at all surprising, though, considering soccer is often ranked the most popular sport in the world with roughly 3.5 billion fans. This makes so much sense to me considering how deeply ingrained soccer is in so many communities. So many people grow up playing it and even if it’s just casually, it is a shared experience for so many. I can admit I am the worst soccer player, but that never stopped me from religiously playing during middle school recess. 

What’s unique about soccer is its simplicity and accessibility. Yes, as a professional sport, it is complex, but a lot of it comes from the personal connection people have with it. All you need is a ball and some space to play — making it a sport for everyone.

It is also fairly simple in terms of understanding the rules. You don’t have to be a lifelong fan to watch a match and be fully immersed. I think that’s why events like the World Cup attract so many viewers: The 2022 World Cup final was watched by 1.5 billion people worldwide. Insane. 

Although not every one of those 1.5 billion people were crazy soccer fans, the appeal was there. It’s something I witnessed all around me. Not only did my family go crazy about it, but my entire high school did too, a place where soccer wasn’t something that had previously brought us together. 

It was truly an amazing environment to be in. All we looked forward to was going to the classes that put on the games instead of teaching. The hundreds of screams collectively heard across the halls were thrilling. It didn’t matter that we were thousands of miles away and in different time zones watching from a projector, the emotion and passion were still there. 

Soccer has some of the best rivalries, with many spanning centuries. These rivalries make for the most exciting derbies. Among them — the oldest — the Rules Derby, dates back 163 years to Boxing Day 1860, when England’s Sheffield F.C. and Hallam F.C., two of the oldest football clubs, faced each other. 

While the world’s oldest derby may not be the biggest within the sport, many others are. One of the biggest is El Clásico, the iconic derby between Spain’s FC Barcelona and Real Madrid FC., which has been played 186 times.

While a classic rivalry, the clash between the two teams represents much more. The foes were born out of deep-seated political divisions: FC Barcelona is seen as a representation of Catalan nationalism, while Real Madrid FC embodies Spanish nationalism. 

These fierce rivalries showcase the immense passion that fuels the sport. It transcends, divides and unites people all over the world. From screaming fans in high school hallways to countless chanting voices at packed stadiums, soccer has a way of bringing people together. 

Regina Correa is a freshman writing about the realm where sports meet culture in her column, “The Cultural Playbook,” which runs every other Monday.