Feb 24 — In Engbertson Hall on campus, the sound of button mashing, the smell of pizza in the air, and trash talk filled the room as the Latinx Resource Center (LRC) brought students together for an afternoon FIFA tournament, an event which was as much about community as it was about competition. I had the chance to visit and get insight into this interesting collaboration.
For anyone unfamiliar with the game, FIFA is a football simulation game developed by EA Sports featuring real-life football (soccer) players.
Karina, Associate Director of the Latinx Resource Center, explained how the intersection of culture and timing inspired the event.
“Soccer is obviously really big culturally for different Latino cultures, and then with the World Cup happening this year, we wanted to really celebrate such a big event,” Karina said. She added that the event was also an opportunity to reach out to departments with which the LRC usually does not collaborate. The Anime and Gaming Club helped with the technical setup, and The Association of Latin American Students shared a similar vision with the LRC in providing cultural programming and promoting community at Governors State, making it a natural partner for the event.
“We hope this brings more visibility to the Latinx Resource Center and some of the other cultural and professional development events we have coming up,” she said.
Anime and Gaming Club member Sharae was excited about the shared event. She explained that both organizations are driven by a desire to support each other, and that from the start, she knew the LRC was the right partner for the club’s first-ever FIFA event, especially because it was a new type of game for the club, one that drew in students who actually played.
Different members of GSU’s men’s soccer team made their presence known in the tournament, each with their own reasons for signing up. Brayden was straightforward about his confidence heading in. “I signed up because me and my boy Elkin are the best FIFA duo in all of Illinois,” he said, while Elkin said his competitive side only comes out when he’s playing among friends.
Teammate Kellum said, “I won’t say I’m a casual player, but a little bit competitive – I play soccer, so I don’t really like losing,” followed by a laugh. Dmitri took a more humble approach, saying, “I’m never competitive; all I do is play for fun.”
For students Mario and Sixto, the tournament tapped into something deeper than just friendly competition; it was a ride down memory lane.
Mario said he’s been a FIFA player since he was around 12 or 13, so when he heard of the tournament, signing up was an easy call. Sixto, though he hadn’t played in about ten years, looked back fondly on his 2016 era — playing Pro Clubs with his friends, building custom players, and competing as Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and other soccer players.
As the tournament continued, more students walked in — some wanting to grab a controller, others content to sit back and watch. The event was a success leaving both the LRC and Anime and Gaming Club hoping the energy and care would carry forward into more collaborations down the line, and maybe even a rematch.