How football can change the world

And I don't mean American Football. I mean, SOCCER.

For the past two years I have been watching soccer more and more, getting into the culture, learning the rules and why people do what they do such as fall to the ground like a whiny little bitch every time their leg is tapped. It's fascinating. I'm intrigued by the sport past the Reign of Beckham and Manchester United (I'm judging you, fans), and into the realm of really loving the game.

With the semi-finals freshly completed, Spain and the Netherlands will be facing off in the 2010 World Cup final on Sunday. I watched the US and England, I watched the US lose, I watched England lose, and today I watched as my favored Germany took their final march. But what I have loved is the game coupled with technology, the way that social media has blitzed opinions, sparking debate and renewed friendships of fellow soccer fans and lovers. It's this small pocket of people in America who truly love this game, or follow it enough to hold a conversation. But for many it runs through their veins as thick as their own genealogy. Me loving this game is like being a part of the inside joke - a part of something so many others simply don't get.

Americans have been raised on American football, baseball, basketball and hockey. Many find soccer quite boring to watch or are turned off by a low-scoring sport. These people are missing the beauty of soccer for what it is. The point is soccer is the biggest sport in the world and on a whole, the US is missing out. As the World Cup has brought together some of the richest histories and cultures from around the globe, we are privvy to a united love, even if just for a month. How can anyone ignore this?? How do you not find such intense passion and maniacal fandom uninteresting, or especially uninviting?

This is why the World Cup is amazing. Watching it is like having a beer with global culture.

We are two days away from the final game, and I am sad to see it end. With my first World Cup tucked sweetly into my pocket, I will wait anxiously for four more years to be a part of this incredible event.