Is football really about geography? We normally put the results down to luck and skill. But sports geographers claim that tournament winners are pre-determined by geographical factors.
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How maps are the key to the beautiful game
Is football really about geography? We normally put the results down to luck and skill. But sports geographers claim that tournament winners are pre-determined by geographical factors.
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You might think that you have got to grips with the geography of the World Cup. It is being hosted in the Middle EastThe lands around the east of the Mediterranean Sea and Arabia. , 32 countries are playing, and an estimated half of the world's population will watch it, from almost every single city in the world. Simple.
But there is more to it than meets the eye. Beneath a sporting event as monumental as the World Cup is a network of different geographical factors.
The geography of the World Cup includes both physical geography - which looks at the natural world - and human geography, which focuses on human activity across the Earth as well as culture, politics, economics, populations, transport and more factors.
Physical geography is a key consideration. Seemingly unimportant factors such as wind speed and precipitationRain, snow, sleet, hail etc. could give a competitive edge to players from countries with similar climate conditions.
It explains why this World Cup is taking place, unusually, in November. A summer tournament in Qatar would be nearly impossible, when average temperatures reach 37C.
But human geography shapes the game arguably even more. There is often a positive relationship between factors like GDPShort for Gross Domestic Product, the measure of all the goods and services produced inside a country. per capitaPer person. The phrase came into use in the late 17th Century, but it is originally a Latin phrase meaning "by heads"., life expectancy, living standards and carbon emissionsWhen a gas is let off from something, like a car, it is an emission. Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming., and a country's football success.
This means if a country is more economically strong their football team will usually be better. But interestingly, some countries, particularly those in South America, appear to go against this trend.1
The tournament has historically been dominated by two continents: Europe and South America. But the 2022 World Cup shows that they are being challenged by different international teams, so global football could look very different in the future.
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Is football really about geography?
Yes: We fail to appreciate that every factor that affects sport is defined by geography. Football is a global sport, played differently in every country - due to climate, culture, politics and more.
No: Geography is a really small factor in football. What matters more is individuals, such as once-in-a-generation talents, and the pure luck factor.
Or... Geography undoubtedly plays a key role, but football will never be "about" geography, and we should not dismiss the achievements of individual teams as a mere product of their geographical location.
Keywords
Middle East - The lands around the east of the Mediterranean Sea and Arabia.
Precipitation - Rain, snow, sleet, hail etc.
GDP - Short for Gross Domestic Product, the measure of all the goods and services produced inside a country.
Per capita - Per person. The phrase came into use in the late 17th Century, but it is originally a Latin phrase meaning "by heads".
Carbon emissions - When a gas is let off from something, like a car, it is an emission. Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
How maps are the key to the beautiful game
Global games: More than half of the world's population will watch the World Cup. Glossary
Middle East - The lands around the east of the Mediterranean Sea and Arabia.
Precipitation - Rain, snow, sleet, hail etc.
GDP - Short for Gross Domestic Product, the measure of all the goods and services produced inside a country.
Per capita - Per person. The phrase came into use in the late 17th Century, but it is originally a Latin phrase meaning “by heads”.
Carbon emissions - When a gas is let off from something, like a car, it is an emission. Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.