When it comes to sports, none of them capture my emotions the way soccer does. It doesn't matter where you are in the world, soccer is integrated deep into every culture. What I enjoy most about the sport is how you can relate to anyone with it. Soccer is so diversified that you can strike a conversation about it with all kinds of people. It's almost like this secret language that only certain individuals know about.
I always feel like people who dislike soccer are missing out. It's unfortunate that soccer is not popular in the United States. I can understand why some prefer other sports like baseball, football and basketball. Don't get me wrong those are great sports too. However, none of them compare to what soccer means to me. It doesn't matter whether you're watching a game live on television or in person, soccer has an atmosphere like no other. You can feel the crowd as the chants go on. You see the flags waving and the vibrant colors of each team filing up the entire stadium. Then when a goal is scored, the roar of the fans comes soaring in.
When I am watching the game of soccer, I find myself paying attention to every detail—the way the players pass with one another, the techniques involved to score those eye-opening goals, the reactions goalkeepers or defenders have to prevent a team from scoring. These are just a few of the kind of motions you observe watching soccer. It's just soothing and delightful to me when 11 players harmoniously work together as one cohesive unit. I almost think of it as an art form. The momentum and build-up play leading to a goal is incredible.
Whenever you have the opportunity to spectate a soccer match, seize the moment and I promise you won't regret it. The feeling is difficult to put into words. You just have to be there to know what I am talking about. One of the things I like about soccer is how there's always a match going on somewhere. There's a soccer league for pretty much every major country you can think of. I would say the most popular soccer leagues in the world are in England, France, Spain, Italy and Germany. It can be hard to keep up with all the games going on at once.
If you're really into soccer like me, you find yourself going to great lengths just to watch the big games throughout each week. On weekends I'll most likely wake up at three or four in the morning to catch a game I can't miss. Yes, I know it's crazy getting up that early just to watch a sporting event, but that's what happens when you live in the United States and most soccer matches take place in a different time zone. I enjoy the experience though, and soccer is worth losing a couple hours of sleep for (with the exception of when a match ends in a tie).
At some point every soccer fan chooses a favorite club. Like in any sport, supporting a team is special. Once you pick a club, it opens you up to an entire other side of the fandom. Representing a side connects you with other club supporters, and it's such a cool feeling. You never know who you might bump into that likes the same team as you. I've met fellow fans in the most obscure places—in a bar, on the street, walking to class or even once while riding in the same Uber as someone. Of course, there's downsides to choosing a favorite club, too. You could bump into supporters of your team's rival club and things get messy.
I grew up being a supporter of Manchester United. The club plays in the English Premier League and is based in Manchester, England. The Red Devils were founded in 1878 and are considered one of the biggest clubs in the world. For anyone that watches soccer, I'd say Man United resides in the same class as teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and AC Milan. Other clubs could make this list, but soccer has so many famous clubs all over the world.
Just like how supporting a club in soccer is special, most followers of this beautiful game tend to agree that supporting your nation is even better. This summer everyone around the world had the chance to proudly represent their nationality across an entire month for the World Cup. It's probably one of the biggest sporting events that takes place every four years. There is no comparison to the feeling you get being alongside your fellow countrymen in one of the world's largest tournaments. Winning the World Cup is the ultimate goal for any soccer national team. The impact it has on a country is beautiful. I love how it brings people together to celebrate and cheer on a certain nation. If your home country happens to win the big tournament in your lifetime I'd suggest you party like there's no tomorrow.
Soccer is one of my favorite pastimes. I think its a sport that no matter who you are and where you come from, you can play a part in it. There's always plenty of action going on. It's a sport that creates the chance to connect with others who share that same passion with you.
Open your eyes to what binds so many people together around this sport. Only then you'll be able see why they call it the beautiful game after all.
