Esteban Mayorga, who also serves as assistant professor of Spanish, will explore how soccer has shaped the national identities of South American countries. He’ll examine different soccer narratives,focusing on the various ways national teams attempt to build national identities through playing styles. It will also touch on how the popular sport intersects other social signifiers such as class, revenue, and corruption. “In the wake of the 2018 World Cup, Dr. Mayorga's multi-dimensional examination of the dynamics of the world's most popular sport will prove insightful and timely,” said Robert Brown, professorof history at FLCC.