Professor shares soccer history expertise in World Cup discussion

KOKOMO, Ind. - The World Cup reminds us of our humanity.

Andrew McFarland, Indiana University Kokomo professor of history, said the social media surrounding the international tournament has added to the excitement, and reminded people of what we have in common.

"At a time in the world where anti-immigrant and transnational rivalries are more heated than they've been in recent years, this World Cup is really reminding people that we like each other, that the citizens of these different countries are fun. When we get together and enjoy something as a group, we're all people. That's one of the things that's making this World Cup important."

McFarland, who studies the history of soccer, specifically in Spain, recently participated in a roundtable discussion about the FIFA World Cup on Noon Edition, a weekly NPR program on WFIU in Bloomington. He joined hosts Isabella Vesperini and Elias Khoury, and additional guests Louis Malone, executive director of Cutters Soccer, and Kelley Wherley, building manager at the IU Global and International Student Building and soccer fan in discussion of the 23^rd World Cup, an international soccer tournament held every four years, with teams representing 48 countries playing at sites around North America. It began June 11 with group stage qualifying and will culminate with the final game July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Panelists talked about their favorites to win, and what the chances are that the U.S. men's soccer team could bring home its first-ever World Cup. There was also discussion of if soccer will become a major sport in the U.S. - which McFarland believes has already happened, even without having won a World Cup.

"I do think Major League Soccer (MLS) is pretty close to being one of the major sports," he said. "There have been huge strides. We have a great soccer team, and we have a great league. Only eight countries in history have won World Cups."

The group agreed they believe the U.S. will qualify for the quarterfinals, and "that would be a successful performance for the U.S.," he said, adding that he's specifically noticed the U.S. team is more skilled in the midfield, and are better passers than they've been in the past.

McFarland's pick to win is France, with Argentina as his second choice.

"France seems like the better team, but Argentina has a better draw along the way," he said. "France looks really powerful, especially on attack. Personally, I'm rooting for Spain, because I study Spanish soccer history, but they haven't looked great so far in the tournament."

The panel also discussed the growth of youth soccer in the last 30 to 40 years, and how to develop those athletes into high-level players.

"Now a huge percentage of kids when they're growing up play very early level soccer for fitness," he said. "That creates a basic level of understanding. That's the core of why there's more interest. The problem is developing that into high-level clubs within the U.S. We still are in a status where the best players go to Europe to play because there's more money there. On the other hand, the MLS players are better too, and important fan communities are building in the U.S."

Social media has allowed fans not only to watch games, but to see how fans from other countries support their teams and experience North American culture.

"We've probably spent as much time this World Cup hearing about what the fan groups are doing as they travel around the country, like the Scots and the Tartan Army drinking Boston dry and putting traffic cones on statues, Norway's Viking Row, and all these fans discovering Buc-ees," he said. "Those are the things the World Cup can remind us are important about other people in other areas of the world."

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.