By Patrick LUO
Source: the Atlantic
December 18, 2022. World Cup Final in Qatar. Argentina vs France. Penalty shootout to decide.
The Argentines must score this kick to win. Moments later…. The players run towards Montiel, the decisive kicker….. The French stood with their faces dejected. Outside of the stadium: Argentina in tears of joy, France in tears of bittersweetness; the world in ecstasy.
In total 1.5 billion watched that tournament final on their televisions — that itself is almost 20% of the global population of 8 billion. This snapshot demonstrates that the World Cup Final is more than a game; rather, an experience that takes humanity to unprecedented emotional depths.
Indeed. A tournament final can unite polarised and fractured nations together through collective emotions.For Argentina, the tears of joy unite them in a rare glimpse of joy amidst one of the worst modern economic crises. Inflation had reached 3 digits and many citizens lost hope as their savings were wiped out along with their purchasing power. Moreover, Argentina went through periods between democracy and military juntas. The last junta from 1974 to 1983, saw more than 20,000 jailed, tortured, killed or disappeared. Therefore, this victory also reminded Argentines that their country was not just instability but grit and passion, through the player’s hard won victory.
For France, the tears of bittersweetness united them amidst the question of what counts as French, given France has become a much more multiethnic society. The latter was proven the winner as the French players from mostly migrant backgrounds fought until the very last minute of the final.
Liberty in taking initiative even when losing,
Equality in players being selected for merit,
Fraternity in players united in pursuing that one trophy that was so close, yet so far.
The final itself wasn’t just about national narratives, but individual narratives that prove that football ensures the most deserving talents don’t go to waste.
For example, Messi — the captain of the winning Argentine team in that final — almost stopped practising football completely as his family was unable to pay for his growth hormone deficiency treatments — a condition that stops height growth. Thanks to his talent and relentless drive, a Spanish Club — FC Barcelona — promised to recruit him and pay for the treatment.
For Mbappe, the French player who scored two goals in that final,he started from the most marginalised outer neighbourhoods of Paris. However, he found the spark with portraits of all time greats, which turned into relentlessness that attracted the French national team’s focus.
For the host country of the final, Qatar, the development of futuristic stadiums and the improvement of transport systems and of housing have moved it beyond the caricature of a small oil-rich nation, but rather a small oil-rich nation that can host a seismic and global event like the World Cup.
For the Global South, the message from Qatar was “If they can host the world, the world could reshape the view of that host country”.
The next edition of the World Cup Final will take place this summer in 2026. Teams, players and hosts will change, but never the stories of joy, redemption, suffering and pride.
