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International Soccer's Influence on Diplomatic, Social, and Political Relations

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To what extent has international soccer influenced the world politically and socially? This research question will be investigated using different books pertaining to the subject. The investigation will cover the impacts of soccer in the 1930s during the First World War, the 1940s during the Second World War and the 1970s during the Cold War. The effect of soccer on a country’s nationalism will be researched as well. Soccer had a great impact on people’s lives socially; it gave people hope when in a time of need. It did not matter whether there was a war going on, or if there were prisoners in camps, soccer was a popular activity to help people survive in the hardest of times. Soccer had a great impact on the world politically as …show more content…

Italy hosted the 1934 World Cup and Mussolini took this chance to try to spread the game across his nation. Since Italy was now a totalitarian nation, Mussolini had control over politics as well as leisure activities, including soccer. Mussolini used soccer as a way to show the world the power of Italy and they won the World Cup, which in turn, gained support for Mussolini. Soccer not only affected nations’ governments but nations’ citizens as well. The country’s fans are passionate about soccer and about their country’s team winning. A soccer game can be compared to small war, there is much fighting, anger, and extreme nationalism during a soccer match. One example of the extreme effect of a soccer match on the nation’s people was in the 1936 Olympics. Peru defeated Austria 4-2 in extra time. The Austrians were upset and claimed that it was unfair because after regulation time ended, there was a pitch invasion of Peruvian fans that “jostled” some the Austrian players. The Olympic Committee eventually called for a rematch because of the Peruvian field invasion. After the game the Peruvians found out there was going to be a rematch, a riot occurred and the German embassy in Lima was stoned. Peruvian ship hands refused to assist German ships. The Peruvian people wanted to separate themselves from the Germans in almost every way. This event is important because it shows

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