{"id":55044,"date":"2022-12-05T14:39:06","date_gmt":"2022-12-05T22:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=55044"},"modified":"2022-12-05T14:39:06","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T22:39:06","slug":"global-divisions-political-scandals-cant-diminish-world-cups-enduring-appeal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=55044","title":{"rendered":"Global Divisions, Political Scandals Can\u2019t Diminish World Cup\u2019s Enduring Appeal"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By<\/span>Peter White<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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An estimated five billion people will watch the World Cup soccer matches, according to FIFA, the International Federation of Association Football. That\u2019s more than half the world\u2019s population.<\/p>\n

And despite a slew of political scandals that have overshadowed this year\u2019s games, they remain unique among global venues when it comes to leveling the playing field between nations.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo me, it\u2019s the best time in life that I could sit and watch soccer from all over the world,\u201d says Charles Anchang, co-publisher of\u00a0Immigrant Magazine<\/a>, which focuses on the U.S. immigrant experience. \u201cIt was the only sport we could participate in as young kids. We used to make footballs out of rubber from tires so we could play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anchang, a native of Cameroon, first came to the U.S. for the World Cup to watch the Cameroon national team in 1994. The tiny African nation has qualified for the FIFA World Cup eight times, more than any other African team.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt put Cameroon on the map more than anything else has done,\u201d Anchang said.<\/p>\n

He was among a diverse panel of speakers during\u00a0an EMS media briefing<\/a>\u00a0on the enduring appeal of \u201cthe beautiful game\u201d and what it is about soccer \u2014\u00a0or football as it\u2019s known worldwide \u2014\u00a0that makes it \u201cthe people\u2019s sport.\u201d<\/p>\n

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