Using The World Cup To Teach History, Geography and Sport

In case you didn’t catch it, Canada made its first appearance at the World Cup in over 30 years. While Canada is not known as a soccer country, we have developed a strong “farm-system” which helps athletes develop before they hit the major leagues, either in Canada or abroad. While we may have made the competition by a fluke this time, we are set to square off again when it comes home to North America. This is not due to our skill but (instead) our identity as a hosting nation. While we may not have to compete for a spot in 2026, the country is eager to demonstrate our strength on home field.

32 World Cup Teams

While some of the countries are large and well known, others are obscure and less famous. This is a great time to discuss things with your children, helping them develop their knowledge reserves for future use. In other words, contextual information will add depth to their writing, school assignments and conversation!

Let’s try an example together.

Out of the four remaining teams (as of writing, December 12th 2022) Croatia is the most obscure to most fans. However, many are taking an interest due to their strong performance on the field. 

Parents Can ask…?

1. Where is Croatia located in the world? Croatia is located in eastern Europe, across the Adriatic Sea from Italy.
2. What is the capital of Croatia? The capital of Croatia is Zagreb.
3. What is the main religion of Croatia? Their main religion is Christianity.
4. How many people live in Croatia? Just under 4 million people live in Croatia.
5. What countries surround Croatia? Croatia is surrounded by Slovenia, Bosnia, Hungary and Montenegro.

Questions For Parents To Ask

Even if you do not know the answer to a question, you can still pose it and suggest looking it up together. This is a great opportunity for family bonding and growth. Each question can serve as a tangent in of itself, giving a pathway to further knowledge. Make sure that the questions are connected to each other, ensuring that everything is relevant and applicable to the topic at hand.

You can ask…

1. Why do you think that the World Cup is so popular in the various ethnic neighbourhoods of Toronto?
2. Out of the 4 remaining teams, which one is your favourite and why? What are some facts that you can state relating to this country?
3. Would you ever want to go to the World Cup in person? How about when it comes to Canada? Would you invite your family and friends to go?
4. Some teams are better than others. What factors contribute to a winning team? What do winning teams have in common?
5. Canada failed to win a game but succeeded in scoring our first World Cup goals. Would you see this as a failure or success? What about a combination of both?
6. While most Canadians prefer to go to a Leafs game, do you think that they will be interested in seeing an international soccer competition? Do you think that Canadians will develop a taste for soccer, perhaps investing in the sport more than we already do?
7. Some people say that the World Cup is a heavily political event. Can you give an example where people were communicating a political message, either in Qatar or at a protest outside the country?
8. What are human rights? Should all workers have protections? What about minority rights?
9. Why do you think that they speak French in Morocco? Can we learn something from history?

Compare and Contrast

One great way to learn about a topic is by comparing it to something else, noting the similarities and differences. Not only do you learn about each topic but you develop a sense of how they come together.

1. What is the difference between hockey and soccer? 
2. What do you need to play each sport (equipment, space, and players)?
3. Which sport is more likely to result in a physical injury?
4. Do you think that it is difficult to organise hockey games in hot countries? What would you need to pull this off? Would the team have to travel in order to access a rink?
5. Like the Olympics, the World Cup brings in alot of money for the host country (or countries), with some taking longer to recap their investment. Do you think that this could be devastating for a poorer country? What countries should be able to host such events?

How We Can Help

Maybe you enjoy watching the matches but lack the knowledge needed to complete the exercises above. In this circumstance, feel free to give us a phone call and we can arrange a free trial session. You can do the coursework with your child, amazed at how effectively they can retain information. Like you we are parents too, seeing to give our children the best opportunities in education and enrichment. While the world can seem overwhelming and complicated to young minds, we work together to make information accessible and fun to learn. Sometimes you just need a little Inspiration!