Roaring crowds, chanting in sync, thousands of people dressed alike all in the same soccer stadium is one cultural experience I will never forget. I have been to sporting events in the States, but never have I witnessed such unity, compassion, and cultural togetherness as in Seville. I was here both during the regular soccer league, or fútbol, and I am at the moment also witnessing Spain climb the ladder in the World Cup, which they refer to here as El Mundial.
Before going to the Seville game during the Spring semester I did not know what to expect. Many of the other students and I went as a big group. We all painted our faces and dressed from head to toe in Seville fútbol team gear. When we got into the stadium with our face paint and all of our attire we realized we fit right in. I did not see a single person who wasn’t dressed in Seville colors in the Seville sections of the stadium. When the game started it was easy to see the passion in the eyes of all the fans and the commitment that these followers make year after year as devoted citizens of Seville. In the moment that Seville won the game I saw just how close the community within Seville is.
A few weeks later Seville ended up winning the entire championship that they had been playing for. When this happened all of Seville came out into the streets to celebrate. People literally lined the streets chanting the Seville fútbol song. Everyone gathered in the center of the city and many continued to chant and be together in unison celebrating their victory.
Similarly to this cultural experience, is El Mundial which is still going on right now. Every week Spain has little by little made its way to the end of the World Cup. There is now one more game. After every game the people of Spain line the streets again to celebrate together as a community of friends, neighbours, and family. In fact for the final game they are showing the game on a huge screen so that hundreds of people can watch it together. I do not know who will win the World Cup, but I do know no matter what happens Seville will still remain a great community where the people love to come together and share their culture with each other and who ever else is willing to take part in it.
