During set-up for South Bronx United’s Block Party for the USA v Australia game at the 2026 World Cup, Giovanni, a curatorial intern with the Bronx Documentary Center, shared his stand-out World Cup memory and what the tournament means to him.
He was 12 years old and watching Ecuador play in the 2014 World Cup (hosted by Brazil), at his cousin’s house in New Jersey.
He remembers how that tournament sparked his connection with the game. Enner Valencia – the Ecuadorian striker called up after the death at 27 of Christian “Chucho” Benítez – inspired Giovanni to become a committed West Ham supporter, when Enner moved to that team after the World Cup. And the creative play of Walter Ayoví, the left back, inspired his own game.
Giovanni hopes that kids experiencing this World Cup become obsessed like he did – whether with aspects of the game, or certain players, or the journeys of teams. And he adds:
“I feel like some of my first emotions were found through soccer. It was like the first time that I felt heartbreak, the first time I felt love and passion and drive… So just keep in exploring that, and like finding out things about yourself.”
The day after this interview the Bronx Documentary Center hosted a pop up exhibition called “Common Ground” with South Bronx United and Football Case Study, featuring photography by Joshua Guerra and Lorena Valencia.
