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For the last century, Soccer --- or"Football," as it is known in the rest of the world --- has truly been the world's game. Played in virtually every country on Earth, it brings people together in ways that few other world-wide institutions can manage. Every four years, much of the world stops and watches as the World Cup dominates the airwaves for an entire month. And its appeal is as universal as the joy a child gets upon discovering that a round ball will roll...and roll and roll and roll.

But with the grown of international soccer, for years many poorer nations found themselves robbed of their own athletic talent, as the gifted athletes of the world moved into Soccer's most prestigious---and most lucrative---markets. Italy, England, France, and Germany have had the money---and, as a result, the best talent---in the soccer world. And while the Brazilian footballers have enchanted the world with their artistry, many of them play their Club Soccer elsewhere, coming home only every four years to play for their country.

With the rise of the global economy, however, much of this may be changing. Economic growth knows no national boundaries, and many once-poor nations are finding their citizens becoming prosperous beyond their wildest dreams. From Asian to Latin America, the spread of modern industry has brought Western prosperity with it. Jack Summers, a noted football commentator, has some thoughts on what this may mean for the future of the game.

The Future of Football (Soccer)

By: Jack Summers