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The World Cup kicks off tomorrow, and soccer fans everywhere will be looking to South Africa for the next few weeks for some heated competition and a chance to show off their national pride. And while the rivalries may be fierce, soccer unites people in a way that few sports can: All that’s needed is a ball and two makeshift goals and a game can happen almost anywhere. As evidence of such, we went back into National Geographic’s photo archives to find some classic soccer images from around the globe. And we want to see yours as well. Submit your international soccer photos to National Geographic’s MyShot and we’ll feature them here on the blog throughout the World Cup tournament. To see soccer photo puzzles, click here and here and search “soccer.”

Photo: Soccer in HondurasA young girl watches a boy demonstrate his soccer skills in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. By David Allen Harvey, National Geographic, 2007.

Photo: Soccer in Bahrain

Boys play soccer in front of a newly built mosque in Bahrain. By Steve Raymer, National Geographic, 1979.

Photo: Soccer in RioA woman practices with a soccer ball on the beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. By Theo Westenberger, National Geographic, 1999. 

Photo: Soccer in Botswana

Portrait of a Botswanian boy holding a soccer ball. By Jodi Cobb, National Geographic, 2007.

Photo: Soccer in RomeBoys play soccer beside the arches of an ancient aqueduct in Rome, Italy. B. Anthony Stewart, National Geographic, 1957.

All Photos via the National Geographic archives.

Comments

  1. Halie
    June 10, 2010, 5:51 pm

    Awesome photographs! I particularly like the cute little boy holding the soccer ball that’s bigger than him. Also, great timing with the world cup right around the corner!

  2. journeyingjames
    June 10, 2010, 8:37 pm

    nice pics through the years. we are living in a football/soccer crazy world.. world cup! world cup! world cup!

  3. college party themes
    February 2, 2011, 12:37 pm

    Awesome photographs! I particularly like The Cute Little Boy Holding the soccer ball that’s bigger than HIM. Also, great timing With The world cup right Around the corner! My wife’s jealousy is getting ridiculous. The other day she looked at my calendar and wanted to know who May was.

  4. Craig David
    February 5, 2011, 9:57 pm

    Wow, it’s so true when they say that soccer unites the world! Also see this page for more info.

  5. Senior picture poses
    February 26, 2011, 2:53 pm

    This site is intended for health care professionals. For the public site please click here.I think it’s about the news on the media, reporting how the government wanted to make some change in the regulations. I still don’t believe it, though.