| Background: In many Latin American countries, soccer is the national entertainment and pastime. Because of the sport's growing importance in the U.S., soccer has the potential to become a powerful instrument for the acculturation of Latino recent immigrants. Latinos are the largest minority group in the United States and are projected to increase to 128 million by 2050, accounting for about 29% of the total U.S. population. Kansas, one of the "new growth states," has experienced a significant increase in its Latino population since 1990.;Objective: This thesis examined the expression of Latinidad at professional soccer games in Kansas City among the recent cohort of Latino immigrants.;Methods: A total of 20 semi-structured interviews along with ethnographic observation were conducted at four local professional soccer games and two Kansas City Wizards soccer practices. An extensive literature review of the history of Kansas City's Latin American immigrant cohorts was also done.;Results: Latinidad is an ever-emergent expression of Latino identity in the U.S., for which soccer can be an important venue. Professional soccer games can be key realms in which Latin American immigrants recognize and reinforce an ethnic affinity with each other in the Kansas City context, resulting in such bicultural and multicultural identities as "Mexican," "Mexican-American," "Latino.".;Conclusion: The popularity of soccer among Latinos should continue to be explored as an important strategy to empower Latino immigrants as they become part of the U.S. For example, soccer can be a tool for public health care providers, facilitating complex acculturation processes and improving health behaviors among Latinos in the U.S. |
