As you settle down to watch a celebration of soccer at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, remember that it’s called “The Beautiful Game” for a reason. Soccer transcends boundaries of nationality, creed, and culture, and the World Cup is the pinnacle, bringing the world together with live coverage in 180 countries and territories. So yes, you root for your team, but you can’t fail to appreciate the talent of others as you get swept up in the carnival atmosphere of a tournament like no other in sports.
From grassroots games to the professional ranks, soccer produces wonderful moments of skill, sportsmanship, friendship, and unity.
So, to help get you in the mood for what promises to be a month of top sporting drama, we’ve gathered our favorite soccer moments from Sportskind and Humankind.
Watch the video to see some classic soccer clips from our archive.
There’s the Premier League soccer star whose fans rallied around him after he suffered horrendous racial abuse. A deployed Army dad who surprised his daughter on the soccer field. A professional soccer player who showed his softer side by adopting a stray dog. A young girl who became a superfan after a wave from a soccer hero. And a great show of sportsmanship between rival fans that captures what “The Beautiful Game” at its best is all about.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Warm up for the FIFA World Cup with five of soccer’s kindest moments
