Goethe-Institut Kanada | Language. Culture. Germany.

Gegenüber Edition: Soccer World Cup 2026 More Than a Game

Three countries, one tournament: the Men’s Soccer World Cup in North America becomes a stage for cultural encounters—between stadiums and streets, migration and myth, commerce and community. Discover the new Gegenüber edition, available in German, English, French, and Spanish.

Grafik eines Balles, der links im Bild von einem weißen Tornetz aufgefangen wird, aber das Netz deutlich nach außen zieht. Blauer Hintergrund © Goethe-Institut, Ricardo Roa

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Breaking Lines

The triumphs of teamwork, broken glass ceilings, the devotion of fandom—soccer lovers of all stripes find solidarity and perseverance both on and off the field. To mark the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s arrival in North America this summer, this collection of films celebrates the empowering, unifying force of “the beautiful game”. Stream for free through July 31! 

Breaking Lines © Weydemann Bros. GmbH

Subjects and Projects

History

German Traces in Canada

© Goethe-Institut
Media art

Collective Forms of Care

© Gali Blay & Leila Zelli | Courtesy of the Artists © Gali Blay & Leila Zelli | Courtesy of the Artists

Onleihe

The Onleihe is Goethe-Institut’s digital library (eLibrary). More than 23,000 German language eBooks, audio books, movies, materials for German language learners, magazines and newspapers are available for downloading from the Onleihe.

« Onleihe » : la bibliothèque numérique Illustration: Maria Tran Larsen © Goethe-Institut Illustration : Maria Tran Larsen © Goethe-Institut

Suggestions from our editors

Postmigrant Cinema

Of Belonging and Exclusion

Genre has never been merely a formal device in German cinema, but always an expression of social negotiation. Whether fairy tale, western, or horror: genres function as cultural interfaces in which historical ruptures, power relations, and questions of identity converge.

© plus3mm © plus3mm
North America

From Maya Ballgames to Equal Pay

Mexico, USA, Canada: Soccer has evolved very differently in each of them. From Mexico, with its millennia-old tradition of ballgames, to the big unknown that is Canada, we introduce you to the three World Cup host nations and their soccer traditions.

© Goethe-Institut, Ricardo Roa © Goethe-Institut, Ricardo Roa
Between Integration and Exclusion

Identity on the Sidelines

Soccer is more than just a game — it is also a space where questions of social belonging play out. The case of former national team player Mesut Özil shows how identity, public expectations, and political debates can collide within Germany’s national team — and create divisions.

© Goethe-Institut, Ricardo Roa © Goethe-Institut, Ricardo Roa

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