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How sport connects US to the world
FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027
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As the United States plays host to FIFA men’s and women’s World Cups and both Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games and continues to export its homegrown sports to the world, the Great Game Lab explores the convergence of global sport, media, and geopolitics. We do so through storytelling, research, teaching, and informed conversations.
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How sports connect us… what’s your take? Twenty-ish-minute chats with some of the more compelling protagonists in the great game.
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We Know What You’ll Be Doing Next Summer
While we are sad that the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup is now over, we are also excited to look ahead to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. This 2026-27 academic year, ASU’s Great Game Lab will be researching and highlighting Women’s World Cup stories that showcase our major inquiry: how the US connects to the world through sport. Only 339 days to go!How Did Los Angeles Become a World Cup City?
Los Angeles encompasses the world, making it the perfect lens for the story of American soccer. Shaped by immigrant communities, the women's game, and global finance, LA’s soccer landscape ranges from the historic 1999 Rose Bowl World Cup win to today's vibrant MLS, NWSL, and international fandoms. Partnering with Wanderland Studios and Matt O’Connor-Simpson, The Great Game Lab explores how Los Angeles truly became a World Cup city.
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College Game Day: The Role of Sport in American Higher Education
Sports have long played a pivotal role in the American collegiate experience. College football and other sports serve to connect universities with their surrounding communities and alumni networks, building a strong shared identity. Beyond enriching overall student life, college athletics offer elite athletes a platform to compete at the highest level, developing stars for leagues like the NFL and NBA, as well as Olympic talent for Team USA and nations worldwide. At the same time, sports have evolved into a thriving business, expanding fields of study and career opportunities in marketing, media, entertainment, diplomacy, and urban development. ASU is proud to count among its alumni distinguished Mexican athletes and sports personalities who have made significant contributions to our institution. We invite you to join us for a conversation on the role of sports in American college life and how athletics foster personal leadership skills and career growth.
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