The average person living in Europe can easily tell you that a low-division European football match involves more passion than an Eagles vs Cowboys game. This might seem like a hot take on the typical American, but this way of thinking ignores the fact that soccer is the biggest sport in the world. Yes, you could argue that NFL fans are equally as passionate about the sport, but not only is soccer universally loved but there isn’t an NFL fan who would genuinely die for their club. This sounds dramatic but it truly is the case when it comes to these fan cultures.
Most people from the US are surprised when you say soccer is the biggest sport in the world. But to be fair soccer has a very pretentious and European-centric part of the sport that unfortunately turns American people away from enjoying it just as much as they love sports like football and baseball. Those ideas of soccer being a pompous, European game don’t just create a dislike for the game but set a standard in youth athletics that sports like baseball, football, and basketball are “normal.” Yes, soccer is offered in most high schools and kids often participate at a very young age but very few stick with it past the age of eleven. This sets a chain reaction of youth quitting the sport and because of that, we see less talent and less drive to go pro, which ultimately strips possible players from bigger stages like the MLS or even the US Mens National Team.
However in places like Istanbul, the passion for soccer still rages on, soccer is just as important a part of life as eating, breathing, or religion in these parts—the Intercontinental Derby between Turkish sides Galatasaray S.K. and Fenerbahçe S.K. is considered one of the most dangerous and biggest rivalry matches in Europe. These games entail fighting and roughness that even saw a young man stabbed and killed. violence and stabbings are just a small spec of this rivalry’s history, but the barbarity surrounding the match and similar matches discredits and taint the beautiful game, nonetheless, it proves a point that Americans couldn’t even fathom the passion that goes into being a European football fan.
Another example of rivalry and passion is in Glasgow, Scotland. The Old Firm derby between Celtic F.C. and Rangers F.C. is rooted for many years in religion, history, and politics. The matches these two teams play against each other are not just a game of sport. They are cultural events with unparalleled atmosphere to anywhere else in the sporting world, especially the NFL. With Celtic’s deeply catholic beliefs, Ranger’s Protestant beliefs, and the fact that these teams were becoming the biggest in Scotland they quickly created tensions in Glasgow. But it wasn’t just religion that fanned the flame of this rivalry, as they continued to play each other over the years a political element started brewing within the stands. Celtic fans supporting Irish Republicanism and Rangers fans promoting British Unionism created the perfect storm of hatred.
Ultimately the idea that love for the game comes from who wins or loses is false, it lies in passion and history.
