Football’s reach seems boundless. And yet for all its popularity, there's still one place where it has yet to grab a firm hold. The US is not exactly a football free zone. After all, they did get to host the World Cup in 1994. It’s just that in North America, football hasn’t planted the cultural roots that are so evident elsewhere in the world.

This raises an interesting rhetorical question. Is it any wonder that Americans are so religious? The fact is that they just don’t get football, or soccer, as they insist on calling it. If only they could see the light and ditch God in favour of football, then the world would be a much safer place for everyone.

We live in a world divided by religion and disillusioned with politics. In these gloomy, frightened times, football shines out like a beacon, uniting us like nothing else can. Despite its well publicized problems, the game remains a genuine source for good, a truly global phenomenon built on a noble and moral tradition.

It's a simple game, that’s fun to play and great to watch. It's drama, excitement, elation and despair. It's heroes and villains, individual magic and collective glory. It's community and pride. It's a ritual, a passion, and a crazy obsession. It's history, tradition and loyalty. It's public, private and personal. For billions of people around the world, football defines the coordinates that mark out their life

At its heart, football is an enthralling drama, with an orgasmic climax of goals. When passes move swiftly and accurately between rushing feet, it is a genuinely beautiful spectacle, the greatest game on Earth. Sadly, such moments are frustratingly rare. More often than not, a match descends into a semi-chaotic scramble. It's a salient lesson in life – never expect too much.

My team lost again today and the week’s already ruined. Let no one be in any doubt – football rules the world.