As the World Cup final unfolds, the tournament’s success extends beyond the pitch, highlighting the power of soccer to unite diverse communities. Fans from disparate backgrounds have come together in host cities across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, sharing moments of camaraderie and celebration. Scenes such as Haitian and Scottish supporters embracing after their teams’ match at Gillette Stadium, a solitary South Korean fan joining a crowd of Mexican enthusiasts, and Brazilian fans consoling Japanese supporters after their elimination underscore the event’s unifying spirit.

Yet, amidst this global display of unity through sport, Ireland continues to grapple with a significant missed opportunity for reconciliation. Nearly three decades after the Good Friday Agreement brought an end to the Troubles, divisions between Catholic republicans and Protestant loyalists in Northern Ireland, as well as between communities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, persist. These societal fissures are reflected in the island’s soccer landscape, where efforts to merge the two separate football associations have repeatedly faltered.

Before Ireland’s partition in 1920, an all-island soccer team existed, but rather than fostering unity, it mirrored existing societal tensions. The Irish Football Association (IFA), based in Belfast, largely favored Protestant players from the north, often sidelining southern participants from the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). Matches were predominantly held in Belfast, deepening perceptions of bias and exclusion in the Republic.

During the Troubles, proposals to unite the associations gained traction. George Best, the Belfast-born Manchester United legend, was among the most vocal proponents of a combined Irish team. In 1973, an all-star squad from both sides defeated Brazil in an exhibition match, providing a glimpse of the potential such a collaboration could hold. Conferences throughout the decade sought to bridge the divide, but ongoing violence and political discord precluded progress.

Prominent figures, including former Republic of Ireland player and pundit Eamon Dunphy, have lamented the failure to unify the federations. Dunphy argued that a merged team in the 1970s, led by talents such as Best, Liam Brady, and Johnny Giles, could have emerged as a European powerhouse and offered working-class communities a shared identity amid conflict.

The peace process after 1998 brought hope but did not revive the proposal. Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong who oversaw policing reforms in Northern Ireland, noted that merging the soccer associations was less feasible than creating a new police force acceptable to both nationalists and loyalists. He explained that loyalists viewed the Northern Ireland team as integral to their identity, making any merger politically sensitive.

Unlike soccer, other Irish sports have successfully fielded all-island teams. Ireland’s rugby union squad, representing both the Republic and Northern Ireland, is internationally renowned and a source of cross-border pride. However, rugby’s middle-class associations differ from soccer’s working-class roots in Belfast, where historic sectarian divides persist. In West Belfast, for example, Catholic nationalists support Glasgow Celtic, while Protestant loyalists favor rival Rangers, reflecting broader community alignments.

Martin O’Neill, who captained Northern Ireland before managing the Republic’s team, expressed skepticism that unification now would immediately yield a stronger side. However, he acknowledged that a merger during the 1970s or 1980s, when the teams had complementary strengths, might have propelled Ireland further in international competitions and fostered a wider fanbase.

The failure to create a united Irish soccer team remains a symbolic lost opportunity. In a region still seeking greater harmony, soccer’s potential as a bridge for peace and shared identity remains unrealized.