It’s coming home: Why football is shaping English identity

Every other summer, England reaches fever pitch as the national team carries the hopes of the nation at a major international tournament.

For many people of all backgrounds, the England team represents a positive, modern and diverse image of England.

A new study shows that the England football team evokes an inclusive Englishness, in a way that other sections of society still struggle to do. If football is doing something right when it comes to national identity, what can politicians learn from it?