The U.S. men’s soccer team faced off against Honduras this weekend, winning three to two to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa next year. Since a military coup ousted the previous government of Honduras in June, the world has watched this South American country fall into political turmoil.
We’re looking at perspectives on how players dealt with the political context behind the match from ESPN, FOX Sports, Major League Soccer, The Washington Post, New York Times and Americas Quarterly.
Before the game, ESPN had the view that much of the build-up seemed to focus off the field, not on it.
“Do you get a sense that this is more than just a soccer game for them?
"It might be more than a soccer game for them, but our focus has to be what our goal is and that’s to qualify for the World Cup so... Obviously we don’t envy the situation that any of them are in, and that’s something they have to deal with, but for us it’s about going to play a soccer game and trying to win.”
FOX sports points out the Honduran team went into the match with the extra stress of millions of Hondurans hoping to unite under a soccer victory.
“But for once, it is the locals who are under pressure. Because of the political condition of the country, this game has riveted the population, and the team is under heavy pressure to deliver.”
The hosts of Major League Soccer’s YouTube channel expected that the political situation would have an impact on the U.S. team’s mindset.
“Exacerbated by the military coup, by the political climate down there, this is going to be the ultimate hostile environment.”
But not every media outlet saw the political climate as a backdrop to this game. Some saw it as a timeout from all the turmoil. From The Washington Post’s perspective the Honduran fans were tired of violence and ready for a momentary reprieve from the ongoing political crisis in their country.
“Honduran supporters seemed so excited to be this close to a World Cup berth and so happy to be able to forget about politics for a few hours, the opponent - even a regional bully -- seemed secondary. It could've been Barbados, for all they cared.”
Was all the build-up simply too much for the Honduran team? In the end, the U.S. prevailed three to two. Perhaps pouring salt in the wound of an already downtrodden Honduras. At the end of the match Saturday Coach Reinaldo Rueda told The New York Times that Honduras’ loss Saturday disheartened the country’s spirit.
“It hurts because of the whole climate, and the Honduran fans deserve better.”
An America's Quarterly blogger wrote that the outcome of the game closely mirrors the political climate in Honduras.
"At the end of the night, fans were left incredulous. One television announcer bemoaned the Honduran players’ lack of 'emotional equilibrium,' while another commentator pleaded with viewers not to shoot their guns in the air in despair. Bullets that go up also come down, he explained, without the slightest trace of irony."
So what do you think? Should politics and sports ever mix and what happens when they do?
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