Amy Eggert

It’s called the beautiful game, and once every four years, the entire world stops for it. Whether you call it soccer or futbol, no other sport invokes such world-wide passion.

To quote Bill Shankly, an English soccer manager, “Some people believe futbol is a matter of life and death. I’m very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”

It has the power to start wars, build up countries and tear them down. It can unite cities, nations, even whole continents. The toughest of hooligans fall to their knees weeping after a loss, while the winners shed their shirts in wild jubilation. Try getting that from the NFL.