The Pitch as a Social Mirror

Abstract

This essay examines the soccer field as a symbolic mirror of social reality. From a critical perspective, it argues that mega-sporting events promote structural violence through commercialization, gentrification, and the exclusion of vulnerable  communities. In response to this dynamic, it contends that soccer, rooted in its popular essence, constitutes a powerful tool for building a culture of peace based on human rights. Thus, it proposes reclaiming the original meaning of the game as a space for connection, hospitality, and mutual support, where all individuals are recognized as subjects of dignity and rights.