Exploring the Heart of Soccer Fandom | Matthew Barry

Yeah, that's this.

I can't imagine the scenes in 2006.

I was a Germany fan.

I'm a Germany fan.

So 2006 was brutal because they had had such a good tournament.

And then all of a sudden, Italy somehow does what Italy does and gets by and, you know, breaks breaks my heart.

But I can't imagine those scenes between your uncles and that like even just for our family that didn't really have a horse in either race.

I was leading to Zidane side because he's a legend.

It was kind of his final hurrah.

But like that moment is has to be one of like the top two or three just most bizarre, insane moments in honestly soccer, let alone the World Cup history for sure.

And to have such like family ties to that is amazing.

You talked about that experience with the American outlaws, the supporters group of the U.S. national team, you know, starting to really get that connection and see what is going on.

What is that meaning? But I want to make clear to everyone, too, that When you talk about fandom, you mean could be a fan of Star Wars, of Harry Potter, of a different sport.

Absolutely.

Music, you know, somebody who's obsessed about K-pop or Bruce Springsteen or something, right? Like it's a general concept.

But when it comes to soccer, obviously you have to direct personal experience.

But from what you've like... studied or seen is there anything that is maybe sets soccer in particular apart right is there anything like fundamentally about the game do you feel that just gives it a little bit different flavor to other types of fandom

Yeah, so you're right in terms of just fandom in general.

Fandom can be anything.

And you mentioned music.

Like, if you can see, that's the first fandom I really got into was Daft Punk.

Like, they were the first taste of real music that I heard.

I'll never forget.

Same cousins.

I was in my cousin's minivan, and they played One More Time for me at six years old.

Yeah, that's this.

I can't imagine the scenes in 2006.

I was a Germany fan.

I'm a Germany fan.

So 2006 was brutal because they had had such a good tournament.

And then all of a sudden, Italy somehow does what Italy does and gets by and, you know, breaks breaks my heart.

But I can't imagine those scenes between your uncles and that like even just for our family that didn't really have a horse in either race.

I was leading to Zidane side because he's a legend.

It was kind of his final hurrah.

But like that moment is has to be one of like the top two or three just most bizarre, insane moments in honestly soccer, let alone the World Cup history for sure.

And to have such like family ties to that is amazing.

You talked about that experience with the American outlaws, the supporters group of the U.S. national team, you know, starting to really get that connection and see what is going on.

What is that meaning? But I want to make clear to everyone, too, that When you talk about fandom, you mean could be a fan of Star Wars, of Harry Potter, of a different sport.

Absolutely.

Music, you know, somebody who's obsessed about K-pop or Bruce Springsteen or something, right? Like it's a general concept.

But when it comes to soccer, obviously you have to direct personal experience.

But from what you've like... studied or seen is there anything that is maybe sets soccer in particular apart right is there anything like fundamentally about the game do you feel that just gives it a little bit different flavor to other types of fandom

Yeah, so you're right in terms of just fandom in general.

Fandom can be anything.

And you mentioned music.

Like, if you can see, that's the first fandom I really got into was Daft Punk.

Like, they were the first taste of real music that I heard.

I'll never forget.

Same cousins.

I was in my cousin's minivan, and they played One More Time for me at six years old.