Well football fans, the time has come, the games are set, and tomorrow is the Conference Championships.

So what’s on the docket for tomorrow? The Washington Commanders are in Philadelphia and will face the Eagles with a 12:00 kickoff tomorrow. These two rival teams are fighting for the NFC Championship title. And at 3:30 the Buffalo Bills will take on Taylor Swift and the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC Championship title.

It’s a heightened time for all. I mean your team could be knocked out and done for the year I get it, but I think it’s a good time today to realize that sports is there to bring people together through a shared love of the sport, the team, and the players. 

Whether it’s your local high school soccer game, or a professional football championship like tomorrow, sports have a unique ability to bring people together. There’s nothing like a whole community, town, province (or state) or even a whole country rallying together to show support to teams. This isn’t just about cheering for a favourite player, it’s about identifying with the larger group—the fans, the city, the neighbourhood. Having a collective identity to strangers you’ve never met through the highs and lows, triumphs and losses, is truly magic. 

In a world where diversity can lead to discrimination and division, sports stands as a powerful force that breaks those walls down. No matter your race or culture at the end of the day the sport is still the same sport with the same rules and field, same ball or play time. Whether it’s the field or the ice, we are all equal, sharing in the love of the game. 

The stakes are high right now and in the world of football and the build up to February 9th might feel like a whirlwind. But in the middle of all this intensity, it’s good to look back on what sports is all about, the passion, camaraderie, and pure joy of the game. 

So enjoy the rivals, get competitive, and show your team spirit and share in the love and passion of the game.