New UW resource explores the politics and culture behind the World Cup
Our take
The recent unveiling of "World Cup: The Syllabus" by the Global Sport Lab at the University of Washington presents an intriguing opportunity to explore the intersection of sports, culture, and politics. This comprehensive syllabus, curated by a team of six experts in global football, delves into the multifaceted narratives that surround the World Cup, touching on essential themes such as FIFA governance, migration, and human rights. In a world where sports often serve as a unifying force, this initiative encourages deeper conversations about the implications of such events, aligning with other pressing issues like the legal battles faced by activists, as seen in the case of Pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil wants Supreme Court to weigh in on deportation fight and the broader conversations around community impacts, like Oregon Considers Ending Free College.
Sports have historically been a lens through which societal dynamics are magnified. The World Cup, with its global viewership and cultural significance, serves as an ideal case study for understanding these dynamics. By examining the historical context and political underpinnings of the tournament, the syllabus positions itself as a crucial resource for students, scholars, and football enthusiasts alike. It recognizes that the World Cup is not merely a sporting event; it’s a reflection of geopolitical tensions, migration trends, and societal values. The inclusion of topics such as human rights is particularly relevant, given the controversies surrounding tournament preparations in host countries. This raises questions about the ethics of sport and the responsibilities of governing bodies like FIFA, which often find themselves at the crossroads of profit and principle.
Moreover, this initiative represents an important shift in how we engage with the cultural narratives that sports create and reinforce. Rather than accepting the World Cup as a mere spectacle, “World Cup: The Syllabus” encourages critical thinking and dialogue. It invites participants to consider how global events affect local communities and individual lives, echoing the sentiments found in other discussions about community empowerment, such as in the article about A star is born: WSU’s Cosmic Crisp® Apple, which highlights the significance of local initiatives in fostering sustainable growth.
The implications of this syllabus extend beyond academic circles. For students and young professionals, understanding the political and cultural contexts of global events is essential in a world increasingly influenced by interconnectedness. As we move forward, it’s worth considering how this resource can be utilized not only in classrooms but also in community discussions. This could spark meaningful engagement among diverse groups, enhancing our collective awareness of the global landscape.
In conclusion, the development of "World Cup: The Syllabus" signifies a growing recognition of the importance of context in sports discourse. It serves as a reminder that the narratives we engage with in sporting events are intertwined with broader social issues. As we look ahead, one pertinent question emerges: how will this resource influence the way we approach discussions about sports, culture, and politics in our communities? The ongoing dialogue it fosters could have lasting implications for our understanding of both local and global dynamics.
Pavandeep Singh Josan grew up in the United Kingdom surrounded by soccer. He’s always loved sport, but his academic focus — he’s a University of Washington master’s student in South Asian Studies researching the history of memory in diaspora communities — is far removed from the playing field.
But Josan brought his passion for sport, particularly soccer — known as football to most of the world — with him to the United States. When packing for the move, he even found room in his suitcase for a prized soccer jersey he received as a Christmas present when he was 13. When Josan arrived at the UW, he started searching for ways to engage in sport scholarship.
“My interest comes from how sport creates identity and how much of our cultural connection comes from sport,” Josan said. “That obviously has good parts, but it also means sport becomes very politically loaded. We see both in the wider scale kind of conversations about sports and politics today.”
Josan found a way to nurture his combined interests when he took a course with Ron Krabill, professor of interdisciplinary arts and sciences at UW Bothell and director of the Global Sport Lab in the Jackson School of International Studies. The two developed a relationship, which led Krabill to ask Josan to serve as the managing editor for a new website: World Cup: The Syllabus.
Whether people are counting the days until the 2026 FIFA World Cup — games will be played in Seattle from June 19 through July 6 — or wondering what all the hype is about, the Global Sport Lab’s syllabus was created as a way for anyone to learn more about the history and politics of the tournament.
“Pavandeep is an incredibly talented, thoughtful guy,” said Krabill, who also served as the editor for the syllabus. “There is no way the project would have happened without him.”
The idea for the syllabus emerged from the creation of similar resources for social movements and newsworthy events. There is a Black Lives Matter syllabus, for example. And during the protests that occurred in Ferguson, Missouri, after Michael Brown was fatally shot by a police officer in 2014, a Georgetown University professor launched the Ferguson Syllabus.
“What those syllabi did really well was put current events into larger historical, cultural and political contexts,” Krabill said. “The idea was to do the same thing with the World Cup — imagining someone who is really interested in the politics and controversies around this event and wants to dig deeper and find more analysis.”
World Cup: The Syllabus is divided into seven sections: FIFA; migrations; protest and resistance; arts and culture; human rights; stadiums; and technology. Each page offers analysis written by experts, discussion questions and a suggested reading list.
The website was curated by an editorial team of six leading experts in global football, including Krabill. Krabill and Josan had multiple, hours-long meetings with the other five academics, many of whom have sat on FIFA panels and produced some of the most widely read resources on global soccer.
“I’ve read a lot of what these experts have produced in the past, and I never thought I’d be chairing meetings with them,” Josan said. “It’s sometimes a bit surreal when you work with people that you’ve read before. It was exciting learning about their insights, not just from what they’ve studied and their research, but also from their lived experiences. That was fascinating to me.”
Krabill wrote the syllabus’ introduction, and Emilia Flores, a UW student in visual communication design, designed the site.“There is no right or wrong way to engage with the syllabus, and we want people to engage however they see fit,” Josan said. “If there’s a particular category that speaks most to you, start with that one.”
The website is also structured to help guide readers who don’t have a preference or don’t know where to begin. In these cases, Josan recommends starting with the first section, which focuses broadly on FIFA. From there, the topics narrow down. The syllabus isn’t specific to this summer’s World Cup, either. The hope is for the resource to remain relevant for future events, including for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
“The Women’s World Cup has been gaining a lot of prominence, a lot of popularity,” Josan said. “Attendance numbers are higher than they’ve ever been for women’s sport across the board, and specifically for women’s football. So, we’re hoping this project doesn’t stop when the 2026 final is played. It’s something that will continue to be updated.”
Even people with no interest in soccer can find something in the syllabus worth exploring, Josan said.
“The syllabus is designed to cross the boundary between football and other topics that are of interest to our society,” he said. “I’d encourage anyone to engage with this, especially if you live in an area that’s going to host a World Cup game. There is going to be so much that you’ll learn, and you might be able to connect the dots when you see things play out in our local area.”
Meet the experts
The following experts curated the material found in World Cup: The Syllabus:
- Peter Alegi, professor of history at Michigan State University
- Laurent Dubois, professor of history and principles of democracy at the University of Virginia
- Brenda Elsey, professor of history at Hofstra University
- Sean Jacob, writer and researcher who will join the UW Global Sport Lab as an affiliate faculty member in September
- Ron Krabill, director of the Global Sport Lab in the UW Jackson School of International Studies and professor of interdisciplinary arts and sciences at UW Bothell
- Martha Saaveda, former associate director of the Center for African Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and a board member of Sport Africa and Soccer Without Borders
More information about the experts is available on the syllabus website.
For more information, contact Lauren Kirschman at lkirsc@uw.edu.
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