Football has long since transcended its existence simply as a “sport” to become a truly global social an cultural phenomenon, and you can’t overstate the role that FIFA (well leveraging the media) has played in this transformation.  FIFA continues to take the sport to the most broad spaces across the world, and this time , it’s again to Africa, taking the U-20 World Cup finales to Egypt.  Only twice has this tournament been hosted in South America (Chile in 1987, and Argentina in 2001), while it returns to Africa in 2009 for the third time.  It debuted here in Tunisia in 1977, it came back to Nigeria in 1999, and now Egypt.  Their neighbors in the Arab peninsula have also host it three times (Saudi in 1989, Qatar in 1995, and UAE in 2003).

The unquestionable winners of all these – asides from Argentina who have won 6 times – its the fans.  While South America has placed (at least) one country in 8 of the last finals, its places where the sport is less developed that get to enjoy it the most.  Yes, you guessed right, Europe (like South America) also has hosted this only twice. (Portugal and Netherlands)

The Arab Republic of Egypt has a population of over 78million people, which populates about 8% of the 1M sq kilometers of land.  This land is a vast desert plateau, interrupted by the Nile valley and its delta.  According to official data, 99% of the ethnics groups are Egyptians, Bedouins and Berbers; while christianism continues to gain popularity (Coptic Christian), in a country with over 80% Sunni Muslims.  Egypt gain its independence from the UK recently in 1922, so English, and even French are understood by folks who have gone to school.

Cairo is the largest city in the Middle East and Africa, greater Cairo hosts 18MM people.  There is a great variety of Coptic, Islamic and Modern landmarks that we can’t wait to see; and when all is set and done; this would be one more culture class, one more social encounter, one more life experience, that we will forever owe to the magical sport of football!

Charles

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