The stands tremble as rivaling teams shout cheers to players running for a final goal. Sweat trickles down their faces as their body takes control; they’re running on adrenaline with the clock ticking down in slow motion. Soccer is the most well known sport worldwide and is loved by a large variety of people. There are over 3.5 billion people sharing this devotion. It allows for a sport to connect people across races, ages, and genders. All these distinct nations gather in this year’s host country, Qatar, to share cultures with one another. Even if fans aren’t able to travel, coming together with friends and families to watch the exciting game in a warm environment, on the edge of the seat and hoping to make it to the next stage is a feeling everyone can experience. 

 Students at Denmark come from diverse backgrounds, varying from Egypt to Chile. Yet, they still come to one unified school for their education, similar to how many people watch the World Cup for its cultural impact. The World Cup consists of 32 teams, separated into 8 groups. These groups compete against one another to advance to a final. During this frenzy, the host city is filled with an abundance of cultures sharing their traditions. People in the U.S. watch on their TV at 7 am while the same happens in Japan at 9 pm. The time difference creates a gap, but they both sit on the couch as their hearts race, never letting their eyes wander off the screen, unified by the rigorous sport. 

Coach Godwin, the Business Pathway teacher and former soccer coach at Denmark, said that, “The world cup introduces very well-known players, and also brings out teams that were not expected to do as well and shocks the crowd with their performance.” It benefits younger players by putting a spotlight on their ability. These newer and less experienced players have the opportunity to  bring their team  together, and do their best to make their country proud. They are only united once every 4 years, so this special event doesn’t happen as frequently as other sporting competitions such as the Super Bowl or the World Series. But once it arrives, it takes the world by storm.

The effect this year’s World Cup has on the school is astonishing. The USA vs IRAN game was one to tell. It was an elimination game, and if USA didn’t win they wouldn’t advance to the next stage. Inside a classroom at Denmark, cheers and sighs of the students could be heard across the halls as suspense crescendoed. Chrsitian Pulisic, number 10 for the US national men’s team, scored for the US, taking the lead 1-0 with the cross. Hollers filled the halls as teachers jumped, and after many years of waiting the US finally advanced to group 16.