The match on everyone’s lips in France

Football (or soccer) is turning everyday people into passionate fans

And when #they (the French national team) win their third title (after 1998 and 2018), we are going to celebrate. That is for sure! (credits to owner for the picture)

SO…I do not know what is in the air right now, but for the past few days, I have not beeen able to stop writing. It is the summer that is now really here, no doubts about it ? Maybe, but that is not the full picture. It is the summer and the 2026 World Cup, which is ongoing at the time I am writing and publishing this, and is set to end with a winner on July 19th ? Yes, that is far better of an explanation.

As an amateur writer, a writer nonetheless, I believe it is our job position ourselves as an observer of society, and report back, it in our publications, of what we took away from it. The fleeting emotions thus captured and preserved on paper become real, permanent, and whole forever. They are indelible imprints on marble; works that all generations will be able to witness. It is in the transformation where the beauty and value of writing lie, in my opinion.

Among those rare events is, of course, the World Cup. For 2026, it is 39 days of competitions, 48 teams (besides Italy!), sixteen hosting cities, 3 nations and 104 matches: that is the scale of the tournament.

A World Cup I haven’t mentioned until now on Medium because it is like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding; an event I couldn’t care less about. Everyone already has their say on it; honestly, what could I possibly add?

Or rather, let me rephrase that: I seriously believe that if I were to go on and on about it, it would be like a viper spitting venom at will.

At the risk of ruining the party, I find this event detestable in many ways. Coming back to the principle, I have never understood all the fuss made over people running after a ball; and especially how much they are paid for it! I am well aware that between all existing organisations in the world, FIFA is by far one of the most corrupts bodies ever (see the video right below for proof): why else would they made up a fake prize for a president they can’t keep satisfied otherwise ? From an environmental standpoint, the World Cup is, once again, a total disaster, since it is taking place not in one, nor two, but three countries at once: the United States, Canada and Mexico. Just like concerts, I am noticing how true fans don’t get much out of it because the system is rigged: itbenefits the richest and the most influential, while everyone else gets left behind. Fans won’t get all my love here, though. I hate soccer fans. Because they might come at me in the comments, let me tone it down a little: I dislike soccer fans. Jokes asides, I fear how fast they turn into animals when it comes to watching their favorite team play. They make noises that are unheard of in public. They are loud. They are not very open to newcomers. Above all, some would say they are deeply passionate: I would arguee that they rather are violent. There are countless matches in France that end with people destroying public property, clashing with the police just for the thrill of it, and causing injuries or even deaths. What else?

[embed]Once again, More Perfect Union is doing all the work to bring this matter into attention and we have to thank them for it! (video from their official Youtube Channel)

All in all, I think it is fair to say that I have a very negative view of the event. However, there is one thing I can acknowledge without getting upset: the World Cup is an event that brings people together, which I believe does them good.

I have never doubted that sports have this incredible ability to blur the differences between people, bringing them together for a common cause that they support together, in joy and good spirits.

For an event like the World Cup; which, as its name suggests, is on an entirely different scale, it is sport at a whole other level of craziness.

[embed]This content creator on Youtube, named Celine, is specialized in football. Her channel has literally been exploding during this time, especially when meeting famous stars (video from her Youtube Channel)

What strikes me most in such circumstances is the patriotism that wells up in each of us when we see the national team competing against other countries beyond our borders. Suddenly, people start speaking in terms of “we.” Do they really contribute to the final result enough to justify this inclusion? I doubt it. Suddenly, people you have never seen show any interest in soccer in their entire lives are interested. They head to the local bar to watch the game with friends: just because. Good atmosphere? They start flaunting the colors of the flag in their makeup, clothing, or home decor. They pressure you to be in front of the TV at the appointed time; and definitely not late (otherwise, the storm will be coming).

In this house, we understand them and don’t judge them. People are finally having fun. They forget their often-dreary daily lives and their problems. They feel like they are part of something bigger. Let them be, I say.

The best part of this experience is that the closer we get to the final deadline, the more the shared interest and excitement grow. More and more people are joining the ranks:

• Some have already been disappointed to see their representatives fail; they sometimes drop out of the race, while others continue to follow along: that is where alliances are formed. That is where we see which countries and cultures are truly friends, and which ones are just putting on a show.
• And then there are the others: those who keep winning. They pray every time for their team to make it through the rounds; their wishes are granted, yet they struggle to believe it. The stakes are rising. Friendly reminder that the higher you climb, the higher you also fall. That is the reality.

Nevermind. Who cares about that ? It is in the nature of things to win, then lose. The longer your luck lasts: the better.

We are reaching the quarter finals when I am writing this and I think I can finally in for the game. All because I can now sense a different vibe sweeping through the minds of people in France. The closer we get to the big day, the more we find ourselves believing; myself included. Call this performative activism, I do not care. Until now, for all the reasons I have enumerated before, I have shown little interest in the festivities. My coworkers started placing bets on an app just for fun, but I didn’t even try it: that is how little interest I had.

Monday, however, was different. The day before, France beat Paraguay during the match. That morning at work, I came in to find my coworkers not being happy with the opposing team’s behavior, which they felt should have been penalized more severely. What exactly were they talking about? I didn’t understand a thing!

Moments later, something hilarious happened. Do you know that scene in movies where a character is completely out of the loop, and in the next scene you see then joining different groups, and the same thing is always on everyone’s lips? That is pretty much what happened to me. It really made me laugh and…start to care. I did no longer want to feel excluded!

They are the leaders of each team (and apparently friends in real life) : they are Achraf Hakimi on the left and Kylian Mbappé on the right (credits to owner for the picture)

The thing in question that is the center of attention is France’s next match. It is against Morocco. The title of this article: I am finally getting to it! It is all happening this Thursday. In Boston. It will be 10 pm local time when it begins. In France, fear is growing at the thought of it. I don’t think this has anything to do with anticipation of a possible defeat, although I don’t have enough information to be certain. No, with a France vs. Morocco in football, the “problem,” if there is one, is that it is a bit like two Frances facing off against each other. By making this comparison, far be it from me to erase the borders of a sovereign, independent country like Morocco. No! The goal is to emphasize that these are two countries that are not only close geographically, but also in terms of their histories and cultures. There are Moroccan immigrants in France and vice versa. This raises questions: globally, how do we deal with it ?, and at smaller scale, who should we support in good conscience ?

France vs. Morocco is this Thursday. Just so you know, most of France will be watching; myself included. Those 90 minutes, if not more, are going to feel long. Yet, no matter who wins, at least it will have given us something to talk and write about. That in itself is a success. Don’t you agree?

An article written by Nica — July 8th 2026 — France — RANDOM#118