Psst, Yankees, It’s the World Cup in North America, Baby!

Psst, Yankees, It’s the World Cup in North America, Baby!

The World Cup, the globe’s most-watched sporting event, is being hosted in North America in 2026 by America, Canada, and Mexico. For perspective, while 120 million watched the NFL championship, 1.2 billion tuned in to Mexico versus South Africa at the World Cup. All three host nations have qualified for this event, adding to the excitement and significance of this tournament.
Politics comes with the World Cup, too. No other sport inspires such passion among so many. Rivalries abound, and some matches make the whole world stop and watch. Think of the fierce history between Brazil and Argentina, neighbors who battle for South American supremacy. In Europe, England vs. Germany brings decades of tension onto the pitch. Closer to home, USA vs. Mexico always draws huge crowds and fierce debate, with each side desperate to outdo the other. People often cheer against teams they dislike, sometimes without knowing much about the opposing side. Now we see street parades and viral videos of fans celebrating when rivals lose. Hate-watching is big in football. Coming from the old world to new world, land of the free who need to be brave, to remain free forever, America, I saw football everywhere. But in America, it’s still called soccer, and football refers to the NFL. Even the metrics differ: feet, pounds, and inches versus the world’s meters, kilograms, and centimeters. America charts its own path, I guess, exceptionally different.
Americans, if you’re wondering why there’s so much global attention and emotion around this event, it’s because football (soccer) unites and sometimes divides nations with its unique passion. I love this sport for its peaceful diplomatic role: it brings nations together on one field, providing a peaceful way to compete, celebrate, and, ultimately, move forward together. Both winners and losers get another chance next time.
For Yankees over 45 who don’t get it—those under 45 do. Hosting means nations bring their fanfare to America, from Dutch crowds in Dallas to Brazilians in Times Square and Haitians in Boston. The Congolese sport leopard suits, flaunting their heritage. Mariachi bands welcome the world. Canada’s is throwing nationwide parties, but Americans recognize something’s happening.
The American team looks strong this year, better than I’ve seen before. Heavyweights like England, France, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Spain, and Germany usually dominate this sport. But this World Cup may be different. This world cup is the rising of the rest to almost as good or even getting better. It is truly a toss-up world cup. This is very exciting and nail biting across the planet.

www.rpoc.org

Republican people of Color are sharing this article nonpolitical analysis and update because the U.S. has a strong team this year, and America is one of the hosts for the event. Please be on our best behavior America, the whole world is watching us as either gracious hosts or what the anti-American narrative vogue in the world today is saying, which we give zero shits to. The best opportunity to win minds globally is at our doorstep or lose minds globally as bad hosts.

America’s opening game, a 4-1 win against Paraguay, is already turning heads. Fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about this squad: Christian Pulisic continues to impress with his creativity and goal-scoring ability, while Weston McKennie’s energy in the midfield and Tyler Adams’s leadership anchor the team. Rising talents like Gio Reyna are bringing new sparks and could become household names during the tournament. Many countries are vying for the cup, but hosting it here is a unique privilege. The main point is that this could be a breakthrough moment for American soccer on the world stage. That my friends is soft power on the global stage.

For newcomers: 48 teams are split into 12 groups of four. In the group stage, every team plays the other three teams in its group. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-place teams, move forward to the newly added Round of 32—the start of the knockout phase. From there, it’s a single elimination: win and move on, lose and go home. The progression is Round of 32, then Round of 16, followed by the quarterfinals, the semifinals, and finally the championship match, where the last two teams battle for the trophy.

For those unfamiliar, the tournament starts with a group stage: 48 teams in 12 groups. The U.S. is in Group D with Türkiye, Australia, and Paraguay, giving us a real shot at advancing. The reason for my excitement is that, as Americans of all backgrounds, we support the U.S. team, which represents our shared investment and national pride. Basically, we’re cheering for our tax money at work and national pride, in peaceful, nonviolent ways. I managed to be at the wharf in DC, our glorious capital, as goals rained by the American team got hollers of USA! USA! USA from folks watching on a Jumbo Tron by the mighty Potomac River. I walked through crowds of all colors, creeds, religions, sexuality, races, and economic class united in pride at seeing a ball touch a net. That kind of passion, now globally, is 1000 times amplified in the old world. This sport is the biggest deal on earth in spectacle and passion. period.

This year, you do not have to just watch from afar. Tickets are available to matches in cities across the country, and fan festivals are planned in parks and plazas where crowds gather to watch games on big screens. Many local restaurants, community centers, and cultural organizations are hosting watch parties and neighborhood celebrations, turning every game into a shared local event. Grab a USA jersey, join the crowd at your favorite spot, or gather friends and family for backyard celebrations. Whether cheering in a stadium, joining a downtown fan zone, or simply celebrating with neighbors, there are plenty of ways for fans to join in and make this
a truly American experience. Does that explain the honor and the privilege of what it means to
host the World Cup, the greatest spectacle on earth?

Let’s cheer for Team USA—advancing to the quarterfinals or even the semifinals would be our American championship moment. If we reach the final, it will mark a historic milestone in America’s history on the global stage. America at 250 years old, this would be icing on the cake brothers and sisters, unprecedented globally understood means of championship. While we salute all competing nations, our focus is on the team that symbolizes our unity and tax investment.
On this one, we agree to agree as Americans: immigrant to native. Leftist to the right and in between.
Go team USA!
It’s the world cup baby, and we are grateful and thankful to still be free and alive to see it on American soil.
Let’s go USA!
Go catch a game and be a gracious host America, better yet bring it home that golden cup.
For God sakes with our 38 trillion at a trillion in interest annually, deficit, we really could use the GOLD!
Laugh and enjoy ourselves, the world is watching. The world cup and North America peoples.