“The World Cup is a way of discovering other cultures. It’s up to us to break down the barriers between cultures. There’s no other way.” We live in uncertain times and in a divided world, rocked by conflicts and global crises. Harnessing the power of football, the FIFA World Cup™ attracts people from all over the globe and brings them together to celebrate as one. Football Unites the World is a global movement that aims to inspire people and bring about unity and development through football. FIFA’s Legends have shared their stories of how football has united their countries in difficult times. In the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, we asked Sergio Aguero to take a trip down memory lane.

Sergio Aguero is an Argentinian great. A two-time FIFA U-20 World Cup winner and an Olympic gold medallist, El Kun is the country’s third-highest goalscorer of all time and its seventh most-capped player. Moreover, he competed at three World Cups between 2010 and 2018. “The World Cup means so much to me,” he said. “Every boy and girl dreams of playing in one but not everyone gets the opportunity to do so. I’ve been to three and it’s the best thing that can happen to a player.” Aguero was part of the side that finished runners-up at Brazil 2014, where the Argentinians felt just as much at home as the tournament hosts. “Argentina is next door to Brazil, of course, but we were so surprised to see so many fans come to watch us at training, right from the very first day. Our first match was like playing at home. By the time we got to the Final, Argentina had almost taken over Brazil.”

Aguero will enjoy Qatar 2022 as a fan. “People love the World Cup. I’m going to experience it from my side now and I can’t wait to see how fans experience it from theirs. I want to feel the adrenalin and that sensation of people waiting outside. It’s going to be a completely different experience for me.” Looking beyond what the World Cup has brought him on a personal level, Aguero said: “The FIFA World Cup™ has the power to bring countries together. It makes us unite. It’s being held in Qatar this time, which is a chance for people to get to know other cultures, and that makes the tournament even more of an attraction. We make progress with every World Cup. It’s impossible to achieve perfection, but I think we’re on the right track, although it’s also our responsibility to respect other cultures.”