Huge sporting spectacles, like the World Cup, draw millions within the terms of the event.

Fans express the wish to be part of something greater than oneself, but they also seek social distinction.

Media may guide our encounters with sporting culture, helping us focus on some issues and ignore others.

Sixteen years ago this week, my wife and I arrived in Europe for a short trip that combined work and pleasure. Still groggy from the fight, we were staying at a run-down hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark. The night was warm; the balcony doors were open. Suddenly, groups of people — some dressed in orange, others in red — went marching past the hotel. Thoroughfares jammed, bars came alive. A few minutes later, roars started echoing through the city.

We had, it seems, found ourselves in Europe on the final day of the World Cup. Spain was playing the Netherlands in South Africa. The fact that Denmark had no stake in the distant battle seemed not to matter. Down in the streets, people were, quite literally, showing their colors. Beyond the game, the world had shut down. This moment was the only thing that mattered. The whole affair was thrilling.

A couple of hours later, the shouting was over. Spain had won, 1-0 in “added extra time.” But the sense of eventfulness, the feeling that one was part of an important occasion, remained.

Once again, the World Cup arrives, this time in North America. The final match approaches. More than a billion will watch. This is the case even in the United States, where — and despite the great successes of our national women’s team — most people aren’t soccer fans.

Our men’s team — by standards we’ve grown accustomed to — did well this year, losing to Belgium in the round of 16. More than 50 million Americans watched. Quickly, we learned the names and faces of star players. More slowly, we comprehended rules. With the American team now out of the picture, many of us have picked favorites for the battles that remain.

Why does anyone care? Let’s analyze the World Cup’s — or any huge sporting........

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