Americans call winners of national competitions “world champions.” This contributes to the American stereotype of arrogance and ignorance. However, American players failed to qualify for the most-watched sporting event in the world: the Soccer World Cup.
Last Sunday at 11 AM, my family and I sat in front of a big TV screen and cheered for the German soccer team. For the team’s first of three qualification games, they played against Mexico. As the reigning champion of the 2014 World Cup, Germany was one of four top favorites… before they lost the game 1-0. (For the record, France, Spain, and Brazil are the other favorites.)
After the game, my Mexican friend Brenda sent me this hilarious meme that has nothing to do with the topic of my blog, but I couldn’t resist sharing it with you!
When I moved to the United States, I was first overwhelmed by the fervor of American patriotism. To my European eyes, the stars and stripes are everywhere: along roads, on public buildings, in front of private houses, and even on clothing.
What a difference compared to Germany!
Germans don’t display their flag except during sporting events. But, on Sunday the stadium in Moscow was a field of green, the Mexican jersey color, and not white in support of Germany. Some German flags were seen in a corner, but every time the “Mannschaft” (German for “team” and the favorite nickname for the German soccer team) had the ball, they were met with a chorus of whistles. When their fans tried to cheer, they were drowned down in an ocean of Mexican voices.
Note: Germany played against Mexico in Russia.
According to everyone but (US) Americans, a World Cup is an event where many teams from all over the world play against each other, with the best team winning the trophy and taking it home. In a Soccer World Cup, 32 teams compete every four years—in Brazil in 2014, this year in Russia, and in Qatar for 2022.
Notice these keywords again: Brazil, Russia, Qatar, 32 teams from all over the world.
American teams call themselves “world champions” when they win a national competition
After the Washington Capitals won the hockey championship on June 7th, I heard several media celebrating their status of “world champions.”
World champions? Seriously?
The National Hockey League (NHL) includes 31 teams—24 in the US and 7 in Canada. Does that really make the NHL trophy a World Cup?
Since my dad took me to many games as a child, I’m a big ice hockey fan. I know, for example, that Sweden won the Ice Hockey World Championship last April and that the US finished in third place only. Sorry, Caps; I love you. But, for non-Americans, you’re not world champions.
Besides the NHL, American football, baseball, and basketball leagues also call their respective winners “world champions.” The British newspaper The Guardian put it this way: “Dear America: you can’t be world champions if no one else takes part.”
After talking with my American friends and colleagues, I get the idea that American players are among the best in the world. James LeBron or Tom Brady are the first names that came to my mind. There are probably many, many more athletes who would fit into this definition.
In the case of American football, I was told that there are no other professional football leagues in the world. Okay, let me think about that for a bit longer and see if I can wrap my mind around a “world champion” in a strictly American League… Nope, not really.
What does the world think of American world champions?
In the Wikipedia article titled “Stereotypes of Americans,” a paragraph is dedicated to arrogance and boastfulness.
One of the terms most often used by German and French executives to describe American partners is “self-confident.” According to intercultural expert Edward T. Hall, “Overseas Americans feel confident that their ways are the best ways and demonstrate messianic zeal about imposing them on other cultures.”
Is this a perception from the outside, ignoring the reality of an American education?
For 5 years now, I’ve watched my children grow in the United States. They are respectively in first and third grades in American public schools. Compared to my experience with German elementary schools, I see how supportive and encouraging American teachers and parents are at my children’s schools. There is never a bad presentation or laughter at a mistake. One child is always cheered by his classmates, teacher, and parents when it’s his turn to speak in front of the class.
Last year, my son impersonated Martin Luther King Jr. and gave a speech in front of his class. He was barely 8 years old. Last week, my 7-year-old daughter presented her poetry project at school. If I was an American, I would describe their performance with a profusion of adjectives like great, fantastic, amazing, awesome, etc. But, I’m a French-German mom and will stick to the facts: they both did well. My daughter has a clear and strong voice that everyone in the room could hear. My son gave a really good speech, but we could barely hear his voice.
What they have learned during the last years is to stand up and to trust themselves to speak in front of a group. In sports and music, they always have a performance at the end of a period, even if the term was only 8 weeks long! In Germany, Jasmine took Jazz dance classes, and she had one performance at the end of the school year. Amélie played the piano and never had a recital. JB played soccer; we saw him during games, and that was it.
My children have learned to be self-confident.
With that said, even if the Washington Caps or the Philadelphia Eagles are, in my eyes, not world champions, I understand where the belief comes from.
Americans won’t be Soccer World Champions in 2018
The US failed to qualify for the 2018 Soccer World Cup; personally, I regret their absence. I liked watching their energetic games because they always showed great teamwork. But, on the day they win the Soccer World Cup, then they can call themselves “world champions.”
Fun fact: The Soccer World Cup is the most-watched sporting event in the world. According to a ranking published in the Huffington Post, soccer competitions like the World Cup rank before the Super Bowl in terms of audience.
