The last bastion of Nation-states: football as a sign of the permanence of nationalism

Abstract

When the end of nation-states and even nationalism was announced because of the effects of globalization, football international fixtures are the clearest examples that this is far from being true, but even though, the national sides show that the image of the mono- lithic nation came from the nineteenth century is gone and the nation-states will have to cohabit with plurality. Indeed, the teams are formed with players of different origins. Any- way, FIFA, more than any other organization in other sports, is trying to keep alive the relation between the national pride and football. Nations without states such as the Basque Country are not allowed to play official championships and the hegemony of states is protected.