The Beautiful Game

Football is a sport that has captured the attention of billions—especially with the spectacle that is the world cup. Although halfway through the exciting games, here’s a quick read to flaunt your knowledge on the sport and to join in conversations.

- Aaron Pereira

Football, also infamously called soccer (by weird folks), can be tantamount to religion—it brings people together no matter their race or background. There’s chanting, there should be no disturbances during play, and every four years, there’s a pilgrimage that can be undertaken during the ‘holy’ month, to watch the gods of football pull off hat-tricks and other amazing feats. With the World Cup already into the knockout stages, we first take a look at six individuals and the teams that they’re supporting, discover their thoughts on football, check out some fun trivia prior to the 2018 edition (which is the 21st tournament held) then finally read a bit about its history and how the game has evolved; so you can have something to share, whether or not you’re really following the games.

THE GAMES ALL BEGAN IN 1930 at Montevideo, Uruguay—the first nation to host, as well as claim the glorious World Cup. Inspired by the Olympic Games, Frenchman Jules Rimet— who served as the third president of the body governing football, FIFA— thought up the World Cup, and to honour him the first accolade was named the Jules Rimet Trophy.

A mere 13 nations participated in the initial World Cup; a far cry from the current 32 nations involved now, which will be further expanded in 2026 and see a total of 48 countries taking part. Even more astounding is the fact that it will be jointly hosted by not one nor two (like South Korea and Japan, in 2002) but three nations, namely, Canada, Mexico and United States. This will truly be a spectacle like never before!