Can We Just Watch Football, Cheer, Mourn, or Celebrate, Without Dragging in God, the Virgin Mary, the Rosary, and War?

As the World Cup in America intensifies and Croatia prepares to face Ghana, a pertinent question arises: Can we simply watch football, cheer, mourn, or celebrate without invoking God, the Virgin Mary, the rosary, or the specter of war?

Every true believer, especially a Christian, understands that God does not fix football matches and loves all nations equally. Yet, the current climate often intertwines faith, national pride, and the intense emotions of the game. This intersection is particularly evident during major tournaments like the World Cup, where stakes feel life-or-death for many.

FIFA, much like any other corporation, thrives on these emotions, generating substantial profits. This pursuit of profit has led to an expanded tournament featuring more teams than ever before. It has also introduced mid-game refreshment breaks, a concept familiar in American sports and now adopted in global football.

The author suggests that a purer experience of the game, one focused solely on the sport itself without the added layers of religious or nationalistic appeals, might be more genuinely enjoyable. The question remains whether such a separation is possible or even desirable in the current socio-cultural landscape.