The FIFA World Cup begins on June 11, spanning cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
University of Guelph experts are available to discuss topics related to the World Cup, including the history of football, ticket costs, politics and even how to maintain the field.
Dr. Alan McDougall – History, ticketing, politics
Dr. Alan McDougall, professor in the Department of History, researches the history of sport and has been a sought-after expert in past World Cups, including Qatar in 2022. He can discuss multiple aspects of the sport, including “sportswashing,” nationalism, tournament history, political implications, fan culture and ticketing.
He and Dr. Tony Shaw have a book coming out on June 11 exploring key matches in World Cup history, called Cold War Football: A History in Ten Matches.
Alan Koch – Players, games, matchups
Alan Koch is the head coach of the men’s Gryphons soccer team. He’s one of Canada’s most respected soccer coaches, known for developing elite talent and training winning teams. Prior to his coaching career, he played professionally in South Africa, Germany and Ireland. He’s coached players who have won the Premier League, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, and UEFA Champions League, and who have featured in multiple World Cup finals. He is a former Major League Soccer head coach who gave Alphonso Davies his professional debut and helped develop several players competing in this year’s World Cup.
Dr. Charles D.T. Macaulay – Activism, marginalized populations in sport
Dr. Charles D. T. Macaulay, professor in the Department of Management, studies how athletes can engage in activism and the outcomes of these actions, along with how marginalized populations experience the sports world. He can discuss potential activism around the World Cup, the impact of heightened global tensions on sports and potential conflict between athletes in competition given the current geopolitical climate.
Dr. Ann Pegoraro – Sport marketing and consumer behaviour
Dr. Ann Pegoraro is the Lang Chair in Sport Management and professor in the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics. Pegoraro researches sports marketing and how consumers engage with sports, along with gender in the sports world. She can discuss fandoms and how brands and cities may capitalize on the World Cup visiting their area.
Dr. Eric Lyons – Turfgrass and sports field management
Dr. Eric Lyons, professor in the Department of Plant Agriculture and research faculty with the Guelph Turfgrass Institute, can discuss the challenges of maintaining fields and pitches in high-traffic sports. His work focuses on maintaining high quality, safe community sports fields under current management restrictions that limit traditional agriculture chemistries.