The role of sports in integration and the construction of collective memory: the case of Türkiyemspor Berlin

This study examines the role of football in the integration processes and the formation of collective memory among Turkish migrants in Germany, focusing on the men’s and women’s football teams of Türkiyemspor Berlin. Employing qualitative and inductive methods, the research draws on semi-structured interviews and participant observations with individuals of Turkish descent from three generations. The findings reveal that the ‘hybrid identity’ formed between Turkish and German identities among migrants from Türkiye is reflected through football—manifested in the club’s name, colours, emblem, and sense of belonging. Furthermore, football transforms physical spaces into arenas where identities are preserved and contributes to the development of the notion of ‘family.’ Another key outcome of the study is the demonstration, in the case of Türkiyemspor Berlin, of how collective memory is spatially constructed through cultural and symbolic elements such as club emblems, team colours, tragedies, anthems, and rituals.