Category: Blogging

A final reflection on this year’s World Cup: Global football is a historical product; it has been shaped from its beginnings by multiple forces, shot through with politics, culture, pathos and pride. And, like all other social phenomena, it has two sides; it has always been a contested terrain. Thus, though not always, if you…

Great article from People’s Game contributor Jennifer Doyle, who talks about the dilemma faced by people who love the game, but cannot abide by the social injustices done in its name. The Inevitable World Cup At this time of year, football fans with a conscience find themselves in a strange situation. We know FIFA is…

The People’s Game is on Truthdig.com! Here is the first of a three-part series written by co-producers Alan Minsky and Meleiza Figueroa on the political stakes of global soccer in 2014. Part 1: When Soccer Conquered the World looks at global soccer through the prism of history – from its working-class roots to its current…

The People’s Game is BACK! And ready to bring you coverage of this year’s World Cup tournament in Brazil, both on and off the field. We will report on the games themselves and also focus on the socio-political significance of the world’s most popular sporting event – including the widespread demonstrations expected to transpire during…

We, at The People’s Game, have received this communiqué from a shadowy organization calling itself the 2014 Global General Strike. We’ve done some research and it seems they have offices in Detroit, Michigan; Porto Alegre, Brazil; Manchester, England; Barcelona, Catalonia; and the Esalen Institute. Here’s the text we received: We call upon all people of…

How to write about Italy? What words effectively convey something so truly horrid? Initially I thought about scurrying to my thesaurus – a synonym for utter wretchedness escaping me – lifeless, of course, but in the land of Berlusconi there’s also the stench of the sordid, corrupt, malign. Then it struck me, the Italians were…

Halftimes. Suddenly, more drama than imaginable. A deep sense of dread spreads across Aztlan. France’s misery is way beyond Satrean nausea

Two countries with breakthrough national sides – the only two countries in Latin America to have reversed gains by the left “pink” tide that has swept political elections in the region this past decade.

As Brazil 2010 prepares to take the field, fans of the “beautiful” game should check their enthusiasm – the future of joy hinges upon the fate of this side. Comrade, brothers, I bequeath you: root against these automatons. A championship for Dunga’s disciplined troops could be the final nail in the coffin for joga bonito…

Drogba a spectator, yellow cards a plenty, Christiano the only threat in evidence for the Portuguese – the Ivory Coast has control of mid-field at the 30 minute mark.