Popular Music and Football

Popular music and football rank among the most globally widespread and culturally significant practices in contemporary society. While neither defines the other, their intersections reveal a rich site of musical interaction. This Element investigates how and why popular music and football interact within the context of elite-level national league matches. Grounded in observations from several European case matches over the past decade, the Element examines these interactions as they unfold in stadium environments, focusing on three primary modes: intra-type music interactions, inter-type music interactions, and music–match interactions. In doing so, it engages with one of the most pervasive, multi-layered, and contested arenas for the distribution and significance of popular music in everyday life. Particular attention is given to emotionally charged, identity-infused mega-performances by musical amateurs – many of whom may be otherwise musically inactive and overlooked but embrace the stadium as a space for emotional release and collective expression.