When it comes to blending into local culture, you can never leave out football.
In the UK, especially among boys, football seems to be a universal language. Loving the game is the very first step to breaking the ice; if you play reasonably well and manage to join a local grassroots football team, building a social circle becomes so much easier. If you are interested in using football as a conversation starter, blending into a group of boys—or even adults—becomes practically effortless.
With the World Cup, which happens once every four years, currently in full swing, my child and I each have our own favourite teams. He roots for Norway, led by their phenomenal striker Erling Haaland, while I am a big fan of the Japanese team for their incredible mobility and seamless teamwork. As of the day I am writing this, the former has already stormed into the quarter-finals, while the latter was knocked out by Brazil in the round of 32, though their performance was nothing short of brilliant.
Of course, living here, it is hard not to support the “Three Lions”—England. This team has become a powerful, natural bond between my child and me, and even between us and the wider community.
The recent round of 16 match was, I believe, the most passionate and spirited performance England has delivered in years!
After going into the second half with a lead, England suffered a major setback when a defender’s clearance error resulted in a straight red card. For the next 30-plus minutes, including extra time, they had to fight on with only ten men against a Mexican side that held the home-ground advantage.
England put up a fortress of sheer willpower, absorbing the pressure while launching resilient counter-attacks. Watching this, my child’s eyes lit up in front of the TV. I didn’t say much during the game, but after the final whistle blew, I asked him a simple question: “What did you think of England’s performance today?”
Shaking off his initial tiredness, his eyes sparkled with excitement as he shared the sportsmanship and sheer resilience he saw in the English players. In that moment, I smiled and said to him, “There’s still a little time left. Go get some rest; you have school soon.”
I knew the conversation was far from over. Because once he gets back to school, this match will undoubtedly be the talk of the town among the children and teachers alike.
This, in fact, is education in its truest form. To the British, it is never just a football match; it is a living, breathing lesson in “identity.”
Education is often exactly like this—it doesn’t need to be forced or deliberate. A single national team match can unite a whole country. It doesn’t require rigid textbooks or lesson plans; education is woven into daily life, and the most important, most precious part of life is the ability to experience it firsthand.
With three matches to go, let’s see how far England can journey.
And for the next match, will my child choose to support Norway or England? I, too, am full of curiosity.
Note: Because this England vs. Mexico clash is happening late at night, some schools are actually allowing students to take the day off just to watch the live broadcast and support the national team. Pretty cool!
