I really like the World Cup for a similar cause I really like the Olympics: I consider each give us a foretaste, nonetheless slight, of what awaits us on the finish of days, when all of the world’s nations shall collect to carry their “glory and honor” into the New Jerusalem. After all, the World Cup, just like the Olympics, isn’t with out challenge (e.g., President Trump’s involvement within the Folarin Balogun purple card controversy, and FIFA’s sketchy ticketing practices). And but, after I replicate on this yr’s match, I can’t assist however suppose that “the attractive sport” will, certainly, be a part of that assembled glory and honor.
Wanting again at this yr’s match, listed here are among the extra notable moments that introduced me no small quantity of pleasure over the previous few weeks.
Experiencing America
At each World Cup, there’s certain to be some tradition shock as tens of hundreds of followers arrive within the host nation and uncover what it has to supply. Which explains why social media was full of movies of tourists from different international locations wandering, wide-eyed, by way of Costco and Walmart or experiencing the surprise of free refills, American portion sizes, and establishments like Buc-ees and Waffle Home.
On the one hand, it’s simple to be cynical about such movies. (Are big-box shops, crass consumerism, and extreme energy actually all that America has to share with the world?) Alternatively, these movies may also be a reminder—the subsequent time I have a look at the wall of cereal choices in my native grocery retailer, as an example—that many People actually do get pleasure from an abundance, and to be glad about that. And as for non-People glimpsing America’s pure magnificence for the primary time, properly, who might be cynical about that?
Cross-Cultural Celebrations
American sports activities followers acquired a lesson in what it actually means to help your group as kilts-clad Scots marched by way of Boston with their bagpipes at full quantity, Spain’s followers celebrated in New York Metropolis’s streets, and the Netherlands’ Oranje Military took over Kansas Metropolis. It acquired even higher when help and celebrations crossed borders, like the Boston cops who helped have fun Cape Verde, the Kansans who embraced the Algerian group, or the Dutch followers who hoisted their Japanese counterpart aloft.
Often, I’ll see somebody put up one thing on social media to the impact of, “If it weren’t for the politicians, we’d all get alongside simply superb.” Such a sentiment could be a bit naïve and simplistic, however watching World Cup followers gleefully break down obstacles and cross borders, I can’t assist however suppose there could be some reality in it.
The Vikings Are Coming
Talking of celebrations, probably the most iconic celebration to emerge from the 2026 World Cup was Norway’s “Viking Row,” throughout which the group led their followers in a stadium-shaking chant as all of them pulled collectively. Norway was one among my favourite groups within the match, and this—together with Erling Haaland’s fashion of play and scoring prowess—exemplified the enjoyment and magnificence that they dropped at the pitch. (It didn’t harm that they knocked out the legendary Brazilian group in the course of the Spherical of 16.) That very same pleasure awaited them again in Norway, the place hundreds of followers rowed to welcome the group house.
Cape Verde’s Victory in Defeat
When FIFA introduced that the 2026 World Cup would broaden to incorporate 48 groups as a substitute of the standard 32, there was some criticism that the growth was political in nature and would in the end dilute and scale back the standard of the matches. However one of many beneficiaries of FIFA’s growth was the tiny island nation of Cape Verde, situated simply off Africa’s West Coast, and I don’t suppose that anybody would ever dare accuse the Blue Sharks of diluting the World Cup.
Led by veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, Cape Verde held their very own in opposition to Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia, shocking everybody by taking part in every of these groups to a draw. They then gave an all-time World Cup efficiency within the Spherical of 32 as they squared off in opposition to Argentina. The Blue Sharks went toe-to-toe in opposition to the defending champions, and although they finally misplaced in further time, Cape Verde’s plucky, never-say-die efficiency endeared them to your complete world and earned them a hero’s welcome again house.
Japan Cleans Up
Heading into this yr’s World Cup, there was rising buzz round Japan’s nationwide group, with some speculating that they might go all the best way to the finals. Sadly, after a stable displaying within the group stage, the Samurai Blue had been eradicated within the Spherical of 32 by Brazil. However by way of all of it, the Japanese blessed the World Cup in a really actual and tangible manner, by cleansing up after themselves.
Win or lose, Japanese followers take the time to scrub up the stadiums the place their group performs, and you’ll solely think about how soiled a post-game stadium can get. What’s extra, the Japanese group cleans up their altering room, as properly. This has really been a convention since 1998, when Japan performed of their very first World Cup, and ever since, they’ve been providing the world a grasp class in leaving a spot—even a world soccer match—higher than if you discovered it.
I’ll admit to feeling a little bit of a void in my life now that the World Cup is over, much like the comedown I expertise after the Olympic flame is extinguished. After all, there’s nonetheless loads of soccer happening; the Premier League kicks off its new season in lower than a month, for starters, whereas Apple kindly jogged my memory that MLS soccer is ongoing.
As thrilling as these matches could be, nonetheless, it simply gained’t be the identical now that everybody’s gone again house. The entire world coming collectively, with so many international locations giving their finest and studying to understand one of the best qualities of others, proved much more lovely than the attractive sport itself.
