What China’s soccer spending teaches us about globalisation
On 4 June 2002, the national football team of the People’s Republic of China took to the field for its first ever match in the FIFA World Cup. For the few thousand Chinese fans in the stadium, and the 500 million or so watching at home, the fact the team had made it there at all was considered the greatest accomplishment in China’s football history. ‘The Great Wall’ would go one step further if they were able to score a goal during the tournament. They didn’t. Playing against Costa Rica, Brazil (the eventual tournament winners) and Turkey, China finished bottom of their group and conceded nine goals. They haven’t been back to a World Cup since. Failing to qualify in 2006, 2010 and 2014, the team could still make it to Russia in 2018 – but even if they don’t, there’s still plenty of time for China to realise its ambition of winning a World Cup by 2050. If they were to achieve that lofty goal – some cynical followers of the England national team might even bet on China lifting the trophy before the Three Lions do so again – they would very likely be thanking their current President, Xi Jinping. A professed football lover, President Xi wants the country to become a global leader in world football, and has pledged the money to make it happen. This includes setting up soccer academies, hiring coaches from abroad, and even offering citizenship to foreign players. But Chinese football fans might also be thanking globalisation. Globalisation, the process by which markets, people, goods and culture become more integrated, is already exemplified in European football. The Dubai-based airline Emirates sponsors some of history’s most decorated teams, including in England, Spain and France. More than 20% of Premier League teams are run by American owners, and over […]