As of 2024, it is estimated that soccer (aka football) has more than four billion fans internationally. Because of this, it is recognized as the most popular sport worldwide and attracts millions of fans to large events via TV and online viewership and in person.
Modern football, as we know it today, first appeared in England in 1863. The game is said to have originated in ancient China as an activity called Tsu’ Chu. As the game evolved from ancient times, it has also gained a greater reach in other areas.
Today, soccer is prominently featured in numerous types of popular culture entertainment. From songs to fashion, the sport has a broad reach and has grown to be a global phenomenon that fans can’t get enough of.
Early Appeal
The first events that genuinely sparked the spread of soccer were the foundation of two iconic bodies: the Football Association and Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Founded in 1863 and 1904, these two organizations formalized the sport and began arranging games between nations.
This quickly spread soccer to many countries, and by 1930, when the first FIFA World Cup was held, 13 national teams attended. The event ignited international interest in the sport and was pivotal to its growth.
The sport entered mainstream popular culture during the 1954 World Cup Final between Hungary and Germany. As the first major televised game, fans from dozens of nations tuned in eagerly to watch the action. This further increased the sport’s popularity and started the now commonplace activity of televising matches.
Popular Culture Insertion
While live matches shown across airwaves propelled football to new heights, it entered popular culture long before.
Movies
Released in 1911, Harry the Footballer is acknowledged as the first-ever film featuring association football. The story follows Harry (played by Hay Plumb), who is kidnapped by an opposing team. The movie shows how his girlfriend comes to the rescue so that he can make it to the game and score the winning goal.
Although many other soccer-themed movies were released during the 20th century, the sport became popular in theaters in the early 21st century. With movies like Bend It Like Beckham, Goal!, Messi, and She’s the Man, the film industry quickly started featuring A-list actors portraying stars in the sport.
Music
Soccer’s foray into music first appeared in 1963 with the song “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Written as a show tune in 1945, the song was adapted by a group called Gerry and the Pacemakers in Liverpool, England. Quickly adopted by the Liverpool Football Club, the song remains the team’s anthem and is sung before, during, and after almost every match they play in.
The sport has continued appearing in various songs, with many written for football events. Another example is “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).” Performed by Shakira, the song was the official anthem for the 2010 South Africa FIFA World Cup.
Other anthems that have become ingrained in the tradition and spirit of the sport include “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” (West Ham United), “The Angel” (Arsenal), “Cant del Barca” (Barcelona), and “Stern Des Sudens” (Bayern Munich).
Video Games
Following in the footsteps of music, video games were next to adopt soccer. The first football-themed game was released in 1978 on the Atari 2600 console. Simply titled Soccer, the game was incredibly primitive compared to those available today. However, it served a rising demand for ways to engage with the sport beyond just watching or attending matches.
While Soccer may not have amassed many fans, further video games based on the sport have spawned massive franchises. The official FIFA video game is the most popular, developed by EA Games and released in 1993.
Between then and 2022, when the 30-year relationship between the football body and studio ended, the franchise released 164 titles. Many other soccer-themed games have also been released, including multiple slots with an RTP of 98% or more and interactive titles that use motion sensors or VR (virtual reality).
Fashion
Not to be left behind, the fashion industry began cashing in on the sport’s worldwide spread in the 1990s. While soccer jerseys were commonly reserved for players or club members, multiple fashion brands began releasing replica jerseys that fans could buy to show support for their favorite teams or players.
The most prominent names behind this movement were Nike and Adidas, which have become massive sponsors of various clubs. Signing lucrative contracts with teams, these two brands have supplied the kit for clubs ranging from Chelsea to Real Madrid.
Social Media
While soccer has been a common trend on social channels over the last decade, certain events have created social storms. In 2022, the Qatar FIFA World Cup broke records by achieving over 147 billion impressions on social platform X (formerly Twitter).
Aside from events, social media has become popular for millions of fans to follow players and clubs. As of 2024, Portuguese football player Cristiano Ronaldo has more followers on Meta’s Instagram than any other player. With 629 million followers, he beats out Lionel Messi, who is second in this regard with 502 million followers.
Literature
Although slightly less popular, football has even made its way into literature. The first book about football, The Laws of the Game, was published by the Football Association in 1863 and set out the game’s rules.
As for fiction, the first literature mentioning the sport was published in 1881. Written by George Meredith, The Adventures of Harry Richmond gave insight into a football match at a Rugby school. The book details the game, outlines the rules, and even provides insight into the atmosphere among players and bystanders.
More recent titles include Philip Kerr’s January Window and various titles by Billy Morris, including Bournemouth 90 and LS92.
Conclusion
As the most popular sport worldwide, it is inevitable that soccer is commonly featured in popular culture. As the game garners even more fans, the sport appearing in ever more movies, music, books, games, and even fashion is inevitable.