Arriving in Argentina: a Field Experiment with Soccer Clubs

ABSTRACT: Societies are increasingly multicultural and diverse, thus urging to improve the integration of immigrants. Recreational sports are often seen as a potential means to foster social interactions. However, existing evidence from Europe suggests that immigrants face significant barriers when trying to join football clubs. Little is known about the extent and causes of such barriers in other contexts. In this paper, we test for the presence of prejudice against immigrants in amateur football clubs in Argentina using a correspondence study. We send emails to approximately 1400 clubs where fictitious applicants, either native or immigrant, ask to participate in a training session. We used the most frequent first and last names from foreign countries in Asia, Europe, and South America. The overall response rate is approximately 19%, and the preliminary results show that immigrants are three percentage points less likely to receive a positive response. Moreover, we find that Asian applicants face the most significant barrier, especially for women’s clubs. The findings highlight the need for increased awareness and inclusion efforts in recreational sports clubs.