The student moves forward with the ball, dribbles past an opponent, and passes it to a teammate who is unmarked in the box. He controls the ball, takes the shot, and… it’s a goal for Algeria! Amid a sea of colorful flags, teamwork, and fun, the be.Living Cup comes to life, a tournament inspired by the World Cup, where sports become a powerful and meaningful opportunity for learning, connection, and cultural immersion.
This year, the teams represent countries from different continents, many of which are unfamiliar to the children. The choice is intentional: rather than featuring the most popular national teams in world soccer, the initiative broadens horizons and invites students to explore cultures, histories, and realities that rarely take center stage at the World Cup.
“The countries we choose aren’t the most famous ones, like Brazil, France, or Argentina. They’re lesser-known countries, many of which rarely ever make it to the World Cup. The children create the flags, do research, and end up learning more about these places,” explains Physical Education teacher Fábio Cabianca.
The initiative connects with the inquiries and reflections that are already woven into daily school life. In other areas of learning, children follow current events around the world, ask questions, conduct research, and collaboratively build knowledge about different cultures, societies, and contexts. The World Cup provides yet another opportunity to broaden students’ perspectives.
According to Fábio, students often draw connections between the countries they represent and current events taking place around the world. “When we started talking about the Cup, they asked about countries they had seen in the news, about wars, and about other current events. They are very aware of what’s going on in the world.”
In this context, sports become a space for reflection and connection, where people from different backgrounds can come together to share common goals, experiences, and interests.
“Like any major international sporting event, the World Cup provides an opportunity to unite countries from across the globe. Sport can serve as a powerful force for uniting people and promoting equity in its many dimensions. The be.Living teams, for example, are coed, with boys and girls playing together, and we see many girls excited about soccer and the World Cup,” the teacher points out.
Beyond the lessons related to cultural diversity, the project also fosters essential social and interpersonal skills. In a tournament, not everyone wins, and learning to handle both victory and defeat is part of the process. “No one likes to lose, but sports help students learn how to cope with frustration. In addition, soccer is a team sport—success depends on working together, not on any one person doing everything alone. It is a lesson in how to live and work together as a community,” he says.
Autonomy also plays an important role throughout the competition. Without coaches, the children themselves are responsible for making decisions about team organization, developing strategies, and collectively determining player substitutions. The educator’s role is to support the process and ensure that every student has the opportunity to take part.
Another important aspect of the project is learning to respect one’s opponents. Throughout the tournament, students are continually encouraged to reflect on the difference between competing and treating others as rivals. “We talk a lot about this. During the match, everyone is committed to their team and wants to come out on top. But once the game is over, they’re still friends,” says Fábio. The idea is also inspired by professional sports, where athletes who face each other in competition often share teams, friendships, and personal connections off the field.
More than crowning champions, the be.Living Cup creates an experience where collaboration, respect, curiosity, and a sense of belonging are at the heart of the game. A meaningful opportunity for children to discover that differences are not only real, but can also be celebrated, appreciated, and understood through meaningful encounters with others.
