Sport and national identity: a comparison of the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups

Abstract

Big sport events may strengthen negative nationalism or alternatively fuel positive patriotism. The 2006 FIFA WorldTM Cup held in Germany enabled Germans to express certain types of identities. Given Germany???s history, there is the question whether this was accompanied with xenophobia. In South Africa, the 2010 FIFA World CupTM is in part held to transcend deeply entrenched social cleavages and to help foster national cohesion. This article explores the way in which large-scale sport events such as the FIFA world tournament can influence processes related to national identity construction. Through an analysis of the social effects of the 2006 finals held in Germany some prospects are raised for the 2010 World Cup. Empirical data show that the 2006 tournament did not contribute to sustainable patriotism but it did have small effects in reducing xenophobia. Hereby it enhances a longer-established trend. Although there are cases of violence against foreigners in East Germany, xenophobia has been diminishing since the 1980s. National pride, too, has been growing since then. In South Africa national pride is much stronger, although it is diminishing within the white population. However, national identity is crosscut by stronger racial identities. In spite of the implementation of certain policies by the national government, xenophobia against African foreigners is becoming a latent phenomenon. Major sport events can be used to promote values such as team spirit and discipline, but also at a wider level, tolerance, multiculturalism and solidarity.