Beyond the Scoreboard: A Systematic Narrative Review of Sport's Influence on Cultural Norms and Values

This systematic narrative review examines the intersection of sport with cultural norms and values through an analysis of peer-reviewed studies published from 2015 to 2025. Utilising Gramsci’s theory of cultural hegemony and Social Identity Theory, it synthesises empirical and conceptual research across various sports and contexts. A systematic search identified 68 relevant studies after screening 150 initial records. Thematic synthesis revealed four main clusters: (1) the role of sport in fostering social cohesion and community while also inciting exclusionary rivalries; (2) the perpetuation of gender stereotypes in sports media versus the challenges of women's participation in male-dominated sports; (3) issues of racial and ethnic representation in sport, highlighting both anti-racist activism and discrimination; and (4) the construction of national identity through sport in the context of athlete migration and globalization. Overall, sport is portrayed as a dual phenomenon that can both reinforce hierarchies and serve as a platform for resistance and social change. The review notes a fragmented methodological landscape, with calls for more intersectional, longitudinal, and non-Western perspectives, advocating for research designs that emphasise power, ideology, and identity while promoting inclusion and addressing structural inequalities.