"U.S. soccer legend Mia Hamm called for people to remember the social value of soccer at a time when, she said, "many prefer to focus on what separates us," during an event in Los Angeles celebrating Friday's World Cup draw. For Hamm, taking children to a World Cup match is a unique opportunity to teach them how sport can break down barriers."
""The whole experience is what makes it worthwhile," said Hamm, a two-time World Cup winner with the U.S. women's national team. She urged families to not only go to the stadium, but also attend activities such as FIFA's fan festivals. She recalled a moment during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, which she attended alone. She ended up playing an informal soccer game in a German park with people from Russia, Spain and Italy."
""What brought us together was our love for the game," he said. In a world she sees as fragmented, Hamm emphasized that soccer allows us to understand that "we are more alike than we are different" and that its strength lies in "celebrating how we connect with each other." Hamm also spoke about the growth of soccer in the region since the first men's World Cup was held in the United States in 1994,"
Soccer fosters social connection and can teach children how sport breaks down barriers. Shared match attendance and fan festivals create immersive experiences that build empathy and understanding across cultures. Informal games among people of different nationalities demonstrate how a common love of the game unites participants. Soccer highlights commonalities and celebrates human connection in a fragmented world. Los Angeles already supports Major League Soccer and the National Women's Soccer League and will host eight World Cup matches in 2026, reinforcing the sport's place in daily community life. The city's cultural diversity makes soccer a natural meeting point for many communities. Local leaders outline competitive preparations for the 2026 tournament.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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