Adaptive transnational identity and the selling of soccer: the New England Revolution and Lusophone migrant populations

Abstract

The paper provides an overview of adaptive transnational identity processes related to soccer among Lusophone migrant communities in New England. Particular attention is paid to how the New England Revolution soccer team (in the US first division) markets the club to the Lusophone migrants and as a result participates in the transnational social field, important for migrant economic and social integration in local contexts. The paper provides insight into adaptive transnational migration processes by examining an institution not discoursively linked to the migrant group, but that nonetheless serves its adaptive ends.