Cao Hamburger’s O Ano em Que Meus Pais Saíram de Férias (2006) and Ana Díez’s Paisito (2008) explore soccer’s potential to serve the state as a distraction for the masses or conversely provide an opportunity for opposition to hegemonic ideologies. The Brazilian director of O Ano em Que Meus Pais Saíram de Férias and Spanish director of the Spanish-Uruguayan-Argentine co-production Paisito allegorize in sporting terms Brazilian and Uruguayan political turmoil in the early 1970’s. Soccer offensives coordinate with the political opposition to the Brazilian military dictatorship during 1970’s World Cup in O Ano em Que Meus Pais Saíram de Férias whereas citizens most tomar partido, or take sides, in Paisito with either the military or the Tupamaro resistance that culminates in Uruguay’s 1973 military coup.