I’ve become enthralled with World Cup soccer. This 39 day-long event feels like a blend of the Super Bowl (in intensity), the Final 4 (because the underdogs have a chance) and the Olympics (because it’s world-wide) and I can’t get enough of it…
Yes, I know there is corruption and that FIFA takes corruption to new levels. I know what happens in our cities during the World Cup is not all good. I’m not going to ignore these horrors or pretend it’s otherwise. But there is another lesson I’m learning watching the matches (and the celebrations before and after) – It’s possible for us to be tribally attached and globally connected at the same time… and feel joy from both.
As much as I am enjoying the matches and the wild fan celebrations, it’s the pre-game ritual that has particularly captured my attention.
It starts with unfurling a huge national flag for each of the two nations on the two halves of the pitch. Then another banner – a circle with an image of earth and “FIFA 2026” , is unfurled in the center of the field.
And then there’s a procession – led by a child… who picks up the ball for the match from a pedestal as they enter the stadium to carry it to the center of the field, the referees walking just behind them.
They are followed by the two teams who merge from two lines to walk into the stadium side by side, each player holding the hand of a child…. boys and girls with all colors of skin who are all very serious (except for when they grin when they forget that they are supposed to be serious).
The players gather around the blue midfield circle together as the two national anthems are played
And then the game starts. It’s intense, it’s stunning athleticism, it’s everything you want in a sport… but (mostly) without the rancor that seems to accompany national identities in the world today.
Players help each other up.
They applaud each other’s teams and the fans at the end of the match.
The fans are exuberant, flamboyant, and passionate… Without being obviously vindictive or mean. The crowds are huge, and loud, and boisterous… and there has been virtually no violence.
From where I sit, it looks like the cities of North America have been invaded with joy.
