The World Cup

For the past several weeks I’ve been excited to be able to turn on the television at seemingly any point of the day or night and catch some World Cup football (soccer). I’ve found myself cheering for not just the USA and Portugal but for teams like Cabo Verde (but who wasn’t, really, except maybe Messi and his Argentinian kin) and Norway and England and, ultimately, Spain.

It’s inspiring to see a 40-year-old cab driver raised by his grandparents stand firm in goal and upset the odds. Inspiring to see a Norwegian lead the crowd in Viking rowing. To see legends of the game play in what may be their last World Cup games.

I started following Cristiano Ronaldo on Instagram (adding myself to the cozy and intimate ranks of 671 million others) mostly because of the way he always makes time for kids and for his fans and because his impoverished Madeira roots to one of the world’s most celebrated soccer players inspires so many.

And, of course, I’ve caught the wave of American enthusiasm for Team USA akin to that of American enthusiasm for the women’s Team USA from several years ago or the Men’s and Women’s Hockey Teams from last winter. I’ve shed a tear while a stadium in California crooned Country Roads as America’s team celebrated. I wish the poor red card call hadn’t been made. It was wrong, but moreso, that a man who doesn’t know what a red card even is couldn’t stay out of it. And, of course, in the end, it didn’t matter. Belgium whooped the Americans but good. But despite this unfortunate detour which tainted the mystique and aura around this team, we shouldn’t take away from Team USA’s marvelous run, how they brought the country together to cheer for something positive. They inspired fans new and old, young and aged with the play, their charisma and their positivity.

But mostly, I’ve been inspired by how the World Cup has brought us all together. Rich countries and poorer ones; Muslim, Christian, Agnostic and Jewish fans; immigrants and native born all cheering together for their teams. From returning Britons posting on Instagram about their cravings for ranch dressing and Waffle House to Argentinian fans chanting the name of a man who lost his wallet in Dallas to the sportsmanship and respect that retiring players like Croatian Luka Modrić received from his opponents. As Maya Angelou would say, “we are more alike than we are unalike” and every four years the World Cup shows us the way.

Felicidades España!