Soccer: the new Religion

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF

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DIVIDED BETWEEN TWO LOYALTIES


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Summer of 2009 - U.S.A. vs Honduras
Hello and welcome to my website! My name is Jonathan A. Lopez, and I am currently a junior at the University of Notre Dame. This website is a project for one of my classes, an Anthropology course entitled "Ritual, Sport, and Play." The purpose of the project is to interconnect the three essential concepts of ritual, sport, and play in a new and intriguing way. With this in mind, I decided to focus my attention on a particular sport of interest in my family - soccer or fútbol. Attempting to establish the religious aspect of the sport, I have dedicated much of this website to studying five particular case studies which highlight this angle of soccer in a very concrete and easy way. 

So how did I arrive to this topic? Well, I would have to say that it has been a subject manner close to my ethnic background and who I essentially am. Growing up, soccer was a special experience. Some of my best memories are when I would watch the World Cup with my parents. In particular, the 1998 and 2002 World Cups come to mind. In 1998, I will never forget the excitement that we felt when Mexico tied the Netherlands in group play to qualify for the second round. The goal was scored by forward Luis "El Matador" Hernandez in the 93rd minute. It was a thrilling experience full of emotion and uncertainty. In 2002, I was a young man divided between two cultures when the United States and Mexico played for a spot in the Quarterfinals. The USA won 2-0. I enjoyed it. However, I cannot say the same for my parents. It was a funny moment now that I look back on it. 

As I alluded to in the last paragraph, soccer was and continues to be a reflection of my ethnic background and life experience. In particular, the U.S.-Mexico rivalry is a deeply personal experience for me. Unlike other sports or games, the soccer matches between these two countries is a social and cultural clash for me. I am defined as a Mexican by blood lineage but as a United States citizen by origin. To say that soccer is not a medium by which we can identify ourselves is a bold underestimation of the impact of soccer. Identity, social values, and cultural values are all visible components of a soccer game. In my case, it can reveal an identity crisis and an underlining social tension between two peoples. The U.S.-Mexico rivalry begins on the soccer field but does not end there. Nationalism is strongly present in this rivalry and fuels the desire to win. To me, there is nothing that compares to this historic rivalry.

Because of this background, analyzing soccer in a way that focuses on how it crosses the line of sport or game had a natural appeal to me. From my personal experience, soccer is uniquely intimate to so many international communities that it stands alone in comparison to any other sport. It has a rich and long history, and I know that i am hardly doing it justice on this site. Yet, I hope that you can find something interesting or valuable through the short case studies and information provided here. Soccer is no longer a game; we just have to realize it. Well, go enjoy the site!

Trailer to GRINGOS AT THE GATE 

THE BEST FILM SHOWING THE PASSION AND RIVALRY OF THE U.S.- MEXICO GAME. LONG BUT IT IS WORTH WATCHING. IN THIS VIDEO, YOU HEAR ABOUT THE RIVALRY STRAIGHT FROM THE FANS THEMSELVES.

SCENE IN THE ESTADIO AZTECA IN MEXICO WHEN THE USA COMES TO PLAY

The US Men's National Team has yet to beat Mexico on their homefield. This video shows a little bit of the passion inside the US-Mexico rivalry. From this video, it is obvious that this is no longer just a game.