With the men's World Cup taking place this summer, football will once again capture the attention of millions of sports fans. However, beyond the matches and scorelines, there's an opportunity to explore the countries, cultures and communities that make the global game so unique.
Our latest site, A Look Beyond the Pitch, has been designed to help students discover more about the world through a football-themed lens. Rather than focusing solely on the sport itself, the site encourages pupils to explore geography, culture, wildlife and food from a range of lesser-known countries around the globe.
Through interactive maps, country profiles and quizzes, students can learn about places they may never have encountered before and compare how people live in different parts of the world.
Featuring countries such as Senegal, Jordan, Costa Rica, Uzbekistan and Curaçao, the resource shines a spotlight on places that students may know little about, helping to broaden their global awareness and curiosity.
The site can be used as a standalone enrichment activity, as part of geography lessons, during tutor time or as an engaging end-of-term activity. It also provides opportunities for discussion around cultural understanding.
We hope that A Look Beyond the Pitch inspires students to explore more than just sport and uncover fascinating places they may never have heard of and become more curious about the world around them.