Something beautiful seems to be happening in America during this FIFA World Cup.
For years, many Americans have been taught that the rest of the world is somehow different, distant, dangerous, or not as developed. But when the World Cup arrives, something changes. Millions of people suddenly discover that beyond politics, beyond borders, beyond headlines, the world is filled with ordinary people who laugh, cry, celebrate, suffer, and dream just like they do.
Football has a strange power.
It brings together countries that politicians struggle to bring together. Nations that exchange harsh words on television can meet on a football pitch and settle nothing more than who can put a ball in the net more times.
Imagine this: America says to Iran, “You want to fight? Forget the missiles. Bring your best football team. We’ll meet on the pitch. One ball. Ninety minutes. May the best team win.”
And when the final whistle blows?
The winners celebrate. The losers cry. Then both sides hug, shake hands, exchange shirts, comfort one another, and walk away as human beings.
That’s the beauty of football.
No matter who wins a World Cup match, you see respect. You see opponents embracing. You see rivals sharing a moment that reminds us that we have far more in common than politicians often admit.
Perhaps that’s why President Donald Trump recently joked:
“This is football, there is no question. We have to come up with another name for the other one.”
Maybe after this World Cup, America and all of us, will remember something important:
The world is a beautiful place, filled with beautiful people.
The real problems are often not the people. They are the politics.
