So we’re through the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. It’s kind of hard to be patriotic at the moment, what with the everything going on and also the fact that a good number of the USMNT members are shitty people, but it’s still okay to root for your country. (It’s also okay to root for other countries!)
And sure, FIFA referees were blocked from entering the host countries for various reasons. And the Iranian team is allowed to play games in the US, but not stay overnight, so they have to commute back and forth from Mexico every game day.
And yeah, FIFA is a terribly corrupt organization, for requiring New Jersey to charge over $100 for train rides that cost $15 other times, and for awarding a “Peace Prize” to someone who then went and started a war (and then basically surrendered in that war, leaving everything worse than before it started), and all the graft that came with hosting past World Cups. Oh, and expanding this year’s cup to include 16 more teams so that there can be more games so there could be more ticket sales and more TV money, but in exchange for bringing in teams that never should have qualified and have no shot at beating anybody ever.
But some of those “terrible” teams got to make a showing on a grand stage. Curaçao came in ranked #82 in the world (in a field of 48), and of course didn’t win any games, but did score a goal in their opening game against Germany. (A game they lost 7-1, but Brazil, with 5 World Cup championships has also lost 7-1 to Germany before.) They also managed to draw with Ecuador, who’s ranked #23.
Cape Verde made their World Cup debut, scored 3 draws in the group stage, and plays in the knockout stage against Argentina. (Where Lionel Messi will probably score like 5 goals against them, but still…)
The stories from Boston of the Scottish fans experiencing tailgating and Red Sox games are also beautiful. (I mean, “beautiful” in the sense of “hey, both countries really just love drinking beer and watching sports”, which probably isn’t the *best* way to form international camaraderie, but I’ll take it.)
And the stories of people from other countries discovering Americana like barbecue and ranch dressing and whatever is… whatever. I mean, barbecue is good, so I’m glad more people get to have it, but also, a lot of these “hey, see, people from other countries like America!” stories are just to try to cover up just how shitty things are and how poorly we treat foreigners.
But hey, major sporting events mean more opportunities to gamble! (I’ve won about $200 so far!)
So watch some soccer (or football), root for a country (that may or may not be the United States), maybe bet a little money (actually don’t – gambling is generally bad to do, but whatever), and celebrate the world watching together.
It’s fine.
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