World Sevens tournament highlights football's fun aspect amid seriousness
The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 3, 2026, 1:50 PM
Last updated Jun 3, 2026

The World Sevens tournament has sparked conversation about the enjoyment of football as a sport. Taking place this summer, the seven-a-side format promises to remind fans and players alike of the game's primary focus: fun. While serious debates around officiating and commentary dominate discussions, this event serves as an antidote, aiming to encourage a lighter approach to football. The format's potential impact on local grassroots engagement and the broader football culture remains to be seen.
- •World Sevens aims to promote enjoyment in football this summer.
- •Critics highlight the seriousness overshadowing fun in the sport.
- •Format features seven-a-side matches, encouraging grassroots participation.
- •Focus on fun could influence the wider football culture.
- 1:50 PMThe Guardian Sport — Football seems to have forgotten about fun: the World Sevens has brought it back | Tom Garry
"We all have a tendency to take the game far too seriously – this seven-a-side tournament provided the perfect antidote As much as it is tempting to romanticise about Bill Shankly’s most famous quote, he was wrong. Football is not more serious than life and death, and over the years far too many of us seem to have taken the former Liverpool manager’s words a little too literally and stopped being able to enjoy football for its primary purpose: fun. Whether it is clubs writing letters of complaint because a referee – a fallible human like all 8 billion of us – has made a mistake or the rage on social media that a pundit’s opinion might be skewed towards – shock – their former club, isn’t it time we chilled out a bit? Continue reading...
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