I've lived in the United States my whole life, but my family is from Colombia. We visited relatives often when I was a kid, and those trips usually involved three things: soccer, soccer and more soccer.
Most afternoons were spent kicking a ball around the finca, or a nearby parking lot, or even a dirt road. And every time a game came on, the entire town shut down for a couple hours as people crowded around whatever TV or radio they could find and enjoyed the broadcast. Soccer is more than a sport for me; it's a reminder of my culture, a game that crosses boundaries and is enjoyed all over the world.
In Colombia and many other countries, soccer is a source of national pride. So it's fun to see this pride expressed in a country like the United States with its melting pot of cultures and heritages. Even if I'm not keeping up with the game, the family group chat is buzzing with activity whenever Colombia is playing, and when I do get out to live events, I need only spot someone in a matching yellow jersey to make a new friend.
John Hoyos, right, with a family friend at the Copa América finals, in which Colombia played Argentina. John Hoyos
Hisense is an official sponsor of next year's FIFA World Cup™, and with products like its 116-inch Class UX Series model with RGB-MiniLED technology, the company is showing it understands how to outrun the competition. Here's what to know about the two tournaments and how Hisense is involved.
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World Cup vs. Club World Cup, explained
Although their names are similar, the FIFA World Cup and FIFA Club World Cup are different events and have different dynamics.
The FIFA Club World Cup, which concluded this past July, places 32 already-existing teams from around the world into a new tournament format. This revised structure means more teams, more matches and more opportunities to yell "GOOOOOALLLLL!" at your screen of choice.
In contrast, the World Cup's entrants are the nations themselves. Each qualifying country enters one team of its best players, a requirement that focuses national pride and creates universal appeal. Next year's FIFA World Cup will be hosted across Canada, the United States and Mexico, the first-time multiple countries will share hosting duties during the same tournament.
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