ELUME RAYMOND

Bridging Countries and Cultures Through Football

For Highline College alum Elume Raymond, writing a book about football—more commonly known as soccer in the U.S.—allowed him to show how the game shapes society far beyond wins and losses.

Titled “Soccer is Football,” the book is available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle on Amazon. It “explores how the world’s most beloved sport has evolved into a powerful cultural and economic force across North America.”

Originally from Cameroon, Elume studied information technology at Highline as an international student from 2010 to 2011 through the Community College Initiative Program (CCIP), a prestigious one-year exchange fully funded by the U.S. Department of State.

Crediting his time at Highline as an “exhilarating” experience, Elume—who currently lives in North Carolina—noted that being part of a diverse international cohort broadened his perspective and allowed him to build lifelong friendships. 

That global perspective carried through to Elume’s career in sports media and analysis. When writing “Soccer is Football”, he was inspired by “a desire to bridge perspectives” of the sport, particularly between both American and global understandings.

“Football is the world’s game, yet the way it’s discussed in the United States can sometimes feel disconnected from its global roots,” Elume explained. “I wanted to write a book that contextualizes the sport historically, culturally, and tactically while making it accessible to readers in the U.S.”

While researching his first published book, Elume said he was struck by how deeply football intersects with national identity and social movements. “In many countries, football has served as a platform for political expression, unity, and resistance in ways that go far beyond the field,” he observed.

One of his favorite sections of the book explores how football evolved differently across continents, particularly how identity, politics, and community shaped the sport in Europe, Africa, and South America.

Having grown up playing and following the game, Elume sees the 2026 FIFA World Cup coming to the U.S.—and specifically to Seattle—as a rare opportunity for locals to “witness how global the sport truly is.”

He views the World Cup as a “cultural exchange moment” and hopes it sparks curiosity, community engagement, and perhaps even inspires future careers in sports media and event management. “The expanded 48-team format will also introduce fans to emerging football nations, which I think will broaden perspectives,” he predicted.

Ultimately, Elume hopes “Soccer is Football” gives readers a deeper appreciation for how sport can connect cultures, histories, and identities. He credits Highline’s globally aware learning environment for informing his appreciation for cross-cultural dialogue. His advice to current Highline students is to be intentional about their pathways. “Use your time to develop both skill and perspective," Elume said. "The habits you build—discipline, curiosity, and consistency—matter more than immediate outcomes.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT HIGHLINE'S international students program