{"id":2628410,"date":"2026-07-11T06:21:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T10:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-world-cup-comes-to-america\/"},"modified":"2026-07-11T06:33:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T10:33:11","slug":"the-world-cup-comes-to-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-world-cup-comes-to-america\/","title":{"rendered":"The World Cup comes to America"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthe-world-cup-comes-to-america%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2628410&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The 2026 FIFA world Cup, the largest in history with 48 teams and 104 matches across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, coincided with America\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/americas-250th-anniversary-logo-just-dropped-and-its-about-as-inspiring-as-joe-biden\/\" title=\"New 250th Anniversary Logo for America Released, Equally Inspiring as Joe Biden\">250th anniversary celebrations<\/a>. President Donald Trump emphasized the event as an chance to showcase national greatness and security, highlighting the logistical challenges and international coordination involved.The tournament featured notable moments such as the U.S. team&#8217;s strong start, surprises like Japan and Cape Verde&#8217;s performances, and controversies including the red card and suspension of Folarin Balogun, which drew praise from Trump and others for their handling. Fans worldwide enjoyed vibrant support, spirited festivals, and memorable atmospheres despite some operational issues. Security and immigration policies posed difficulties,with ICE actions and crowd management being key concerns.The U.S. team&#8217;s progress to the Round of 16 was a significant achievement amid varying emotions about their early exit. the tournament reflected themes of national pride, resilience, and international sportsmanship, with ongoing anticipation for the quarterfinals and final matches in New Jersey.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/world-cup\/\">2026 FIFA World Cup<\/a> stands as the<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/op-eds\/4634696\/world-cup-america-wins-back-the-world\/\"> largest edition in the tournament\u2019s history<\/a>, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches across 16 venues in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It opened on June 11 against the backdrop of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/america-250\/\">America\u2019s 250th anniversary celebrations<\/a>, a milestone that President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> has explicitly linked to the event through the creation of a dedicated <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\">White House<\/a> task force charged with coordinating federal efforts. Trump has described the tournament as an opportunity to showcase the nation\u2019s greatness while ensuring robust security for participants and spectators alike. The scale alone \u2014 several million visitors have poured through the country over the tournament\u2019s five-week run \u2014 has made the World Cup both a massive sporting spectacle and a test of logistical and policy coordination on an unprecedented level.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4644392\/prince-harry-family-meet-king-charles-security-denied\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Prince Harry and family meet with King Charles for the first time in four years<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4643997\/taylor-swift-reimburse-new-york-city-police\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Taylor Swift reimburses New York City for police overtime during wedding: Mamdani<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4643218\/apache-helicopter-pilots-suspended-after-south-carolina-beach-air-show\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Apache helicopter pilots suspended after South Carolina beach air show<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This gathering has arrived at a moment when the United States is simultaneously hosting the world and handling our own domestic priorities. Just days after the opening matches, on Flag Day and the president\u2019s 80th birthday, the South Lawn hosted another high-profile athletic event framed as part of the semiquincentennial observances, which I <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4594190\/octagon-south-lawn-trump-ufc-freedom-25\/\">wrote about in these pages<\/a> several weeks ago. The World Cup has extended that emphasis on competition and national pageantry across <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/soccer\/\">soccer<\/a>\u2018s global platform, where teams from every continent compete under the same rules with outcomes decided solely by skill, preparation, and execution on the field. If <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/sports\/\">sports<\/a> is the last arena in life in which pure meritocracy still reigns, during the World Cup, this arena expands to encompass the entire globe \u2014 and those of us here in the U.S. have had the once-in-a-generation chance to watch it all play out right here in our backyard.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-from-group-stage-surprises-to-a-shrinking-field\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">From group stage surprises to a shrinking field<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the opening weeks of the tournament, the U.S. secured a convincing 4-1 victory over Paraguay in our Group D opener, with Folarin Balogun scoring twice during the first half alone. Former U.S. soccer star Alexi Lalas, now broadcasting for Fox Sports, characterized it as the greatest half of group-stage play that a U.S. men\u2019s team has produced at a World Cup. Two days later, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/netherlands\/\">Netherlands <\/a>and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/japan\/\">Japan <\/a>delivered a 2-2 draw in Arlington, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\">Texas<\/a>, with Japan twice fighting back from deficits \u2014 and their fans, continuing a longstanding tradition, stayed behind after the final whistle to collect litter, leaving the venue cleaner than they found it. (Even after they lost a heartbreaker to Brazil, their fans <em>still <\/em>stayed behind to clean up the stadium. Japan may\u2019ve lost in the World Cup, but it surely won this year\u2019s international etiquette award.)<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\">An inflatable football and a flag of the United States as fans enjoy the pre match atmosphere during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, Washington on July 6. (Alex Pantling\/FIFA via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/Feat.WorldCup1.071526.jpg?w=696&#8243; height=&#8221;658&#8243; width=&#8221;1024&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An inflatable football and a flag of the United States as fans enjoy the pre match atmosphere during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, Washington on July 6. (Alex Pantling\/FIFA via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following day produced the tournament\u2019s most charming early story: Spain, among the pre-tournament favorites, were held to a goalless draw by first-time World Cup qualifier Cape Verde, whose 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha turned away 27 shots. It turned out to be no fluke. The tiny island nation kept advancing, drawing Uruguay and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/saudi-arabia\/\">Saudi Arabia<\/a> to reach the Round of 32 before finally bowing out to defending champion Argentina in an exhilarating match that may have been the best of the tournament so far.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Americans, meanwhile, beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 to reach the Round of 16 for the first time since 2014, only to be undone by Belgium on July 6 in a match that was clouded by controversy (more on that below). By the time the Round of 16 wrapped up this week, all three co-host nations \u2014 Canada, Mexico, and the United States \u2014 had been eliminated. The final eight now includes Morocco, France, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Switzerland, and (miraculously) Argentina, with the quarterfinals running July 9-11 and the final set for July 19 at the \u201cNew York\/New Jersey Stadium\u201d in the Meadowlands.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-balogun-balagan\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Balogun balagan<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No World Cup storyline has generated more controversy, or more evidence of Trump\u2019s personal stake in this tournament, than the <em>balagan <\/em>(Hebrew slang for \u201ccraziness\u201d) surrounding Folarin Balogun and his red card. During our win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Balogun, our top goal-scorer, was sent off after replay showed him stepping on the leg a Bosnian defender, triggering a standard automatic one-match suspension which would have kept him out of the Round of 16 clash with Belgium.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\">Left: Referee Raphael Claus shows Folarin Balogun of the United States a red card for a foul on Tarik Muharemovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match on July 1, 2026, in Santa Clara, California; Right: Members of the Tartan Army lead the march around the ballpark prior to the baseball game between the Miami Marlins and the Texas Rangers in Miami on June 22. (Charlotte Wilson\/Getty Images; Jasen Vinlove\/Miami Marlins\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/Feat.WorldCup2.071526.jpg?w=696&#8243; height=&#8221;658&#8243; width=&#8221;1024&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Left: Referee Raphael Claus shows Folarin Balogun of the United States a red card for a foul on Tarik Muharemovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match on July 1, 2026, in Santa Clara, California; Right: Members of the Tartan Army lead the march around the ballpark prior to the baseball game between the Miami Marlins and the Texas Rangers in Miami on June 22. (Charlotte Wilson\/Getty Images; Jasen Vinlove\/Miami Marlins\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump, like most observers, thought that the red card was absurd. He called FIFA President Gianni Infantino directly to ask for a review, later telling reporters, \u201cI asked for a review because I didn\u2019t think it was a foul,\u201d and adding that he saw \u201ctwo great athletes\u201d who had simply collided. I and the vast majority of other sports commentators agreed with the president on this one: The contact that Balogun made with the Bosnian player was incidental and accidental \u2014 Balogun did not intend to hurt the Bosnian player; he was merely making an aggressive play for the ball, which is what players do throughout 99% of an average soccer match. To eject him not only from the match for an action that merited a yellow card <em>at most,<\/em> but to disqualify him from the <em>next <\/em>match as well, was patently unjust.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On July 5, FIFA\u2019s disciplinary committee announced that it would suspend the enforcement of Balogun\u2019s ban for a one<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/convicted-sexual-assailant-fatally-shot-after-attacking-deputies-with-hatchet\/\" title=\"Convicted Sexual Assailant Fatally Shot After Attacking Deputies with Hatchet\">-year probationary period<\/a>, citing Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which allows judicial bodies discretion to hold sanctions in abeyance. Trump thanked FIFA on Truth Social \u201cfor doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice.\u201d Belgium\u2019s federation was, in its own word, \u201castonished,\u201d and had its formal appeal rejected on the grounds that it had no legal standing to challenge a ruling involving another team. UEFA called the reversal \u201cunprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable,\u201d while Belgian coach Rudi Garcia dryly noted that he \u201cdidn\u2019t know that in the offices of FIFA the fifth of July was the first of April.\u201d (If you thought that Belgians weren\u2019t exactly known for their humor, well, that attempt at a joke\u2014 I <em>think <\/em>it was an attempt at a joke \u2014 pretty much confirmed it.) FIFA, for its part, pointed out that it had made similar probation calls before, including one last year that let red-carded Cristiano Ronaldo avoid missing Portugal\u2019s World Cup opener.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the end, it was all moot: Even with Balogun, we lost to Belgium, and it wasn\u2019t particularly close. Whatever one thinks of how it happened, the episode was a small but vivid illustration of the unusually close relationship the president has cultivated with FIFA\u2019s leadership. Infantino, you may recall, awarded Trump the inaugural \u201cFIFA Peace Prize\u201d at the World Cup draw last December, and has appeared alongside him at the White House and at league offices FIFA opened inside Trump Tower. That relationship is set to be on display again at the final on July 19, when Trump is expected to help present the trophy to the winning team.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-a-tournament-fans-are-loving\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">A tournament fans are loving<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whatever the controversies, the on-the-ground experience for the millions of supporters who have poured into America\u2019s stadiums and fan zones, by nearly every account, has been a blast. <em>Al Jazeera\u2019s<\/em> own correspondent, no natural cheerleader for anything happening in Trump\u2019s America, admitted that the opening night in Los Angeles produced \u201can electric, hometown celebration.\u201d Scotland\u2019s Tartan Army, with time to kill between matches, marched roughly 8,000 strong into a Miami Marlins game and serenaded the ballpark with soccer chants remixed for baseball. Dutch supporters in Houston, spotting a Dutch Bros. coffee shop, turned a caffeine run into a small parade. Norway fans were seen doing the \u201cViking Row\u201d up mall escalators. And after the USMNT\u2019s win over Australia in Seattle, the home crowd broke into an impromptu rendition of John Denver\u2019s \u201cTake Me Home, Country Roads,\u201d the song that, for some reason, became our official team anthem during this World Cup.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\">From top left: Argentine fans react as their team scores against Egypt during a World Cup match watch party at on July 7 in Miami; Japan supporters have fun prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F match between Japan and Sweden on June 25, 2026; Fans support their team prior the World Cup match between Colombia and Portugal in Miami on June 27, 2026; U.S. fans march through Pioneer Square before the 2026 World Cup round of 16 match between USA and Belgium in Seattle on July 6, 2026. (Photos via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/Feat.WorldCup3.071526.jpg?w=696&#8243; height=&#8221;658&#8243; width=&#8221;1024&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From top left: Argentine fans react as their team scores against Egypt during a World Cup match watch party at on July 7 in Miami; Japan supporters have fun prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F match between Japan and Sweden on June 25, 2026; Fans support their team prior the World Cup match between Colombia and Portugal in Miami on June 27, 2026; U.S. fans march through Pioneer Square before the 2026 World Cup round of 16 match between USA and Belgium in Seattle on July 6, 2026. (Photos via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are small moments, but they add up. Fan festivals have sprung up in 13 host cities, and armies of local volunteers have fanned out to help disoriented visitors find their way to kickoff. None of this is to say the logistics have been flawless \u2014 traffic around SoFi Stadium on opening night was, by most accounts, dreadful, and ticket and concession prices have drawn plenty of grumbling \u2014 but the overwhelming weight of the reporting, even from outlets with no particular affection for this administration, is that America has thrown a pretty good party.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-challenges-of-hosting-a-global-tournament\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The challenges of hosting a global tournament<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Staging an event of this magnitude has required extensive coordination between federal, state, and local authorities. The Department of Homeland Security has overseen security planning across the 11 U.S. host cities, working with hundreds of agencies to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >implement measures including enhanced screening protocols<\/a>, counter-drone technology, and facial recognition systems.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most persistent point of friction has been immigration enforcement. DHS officials confirmed months before kickoff that ICE agents would be present at stadiums, primarily in a security capacity, though the agency has not ruled out immigration arrests occurring incidentally. Human Rights Watch has estimated that ICE made roughly 167,000 arrests in and around the 11 host cities between January 2025 and March 2026, and the group, along with more than 100 allied organizations, has pushed FIFA\u2019s corporate sponsors to back what they call an \u201cICE truce\u201d for the tournament\u2019s duration, a request FIFA has not adopted. The administration has countered that legitimate visitors \u201chave nothing to worry about,\u201d in the words of one DHS spokesperson, and that only those unlawfully present in the country would be targeted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Security concerns have not been confined to the U.S. side of the border. Co-host Mexico had to double security and cap crowds at its landmark Angel of Independence monument in Mexico City after four fans died amid the euphoric street celebrations that followed Mexico\u2019s win over Ecuador, a reminder that crowd management, not just border policy, is one of the genuine burdens of hosting a tournament this large across three countries at once.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the more complicated threads running through this World Cup involved Iran\u2019s participation in matches held partly on American soil, against the backdrop of the recent brief but intense war between the U.S. and Iran. Iran moved its training base from Arizona to Mexico and was permitted to cross into the U.S. only briefly around its matches rather than stay overnight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even if you had been rooting against the Iranian regime during the war, it was hard to not feel for how their soccer team\u2019s World Cup campaign ended in the most excruciating fashion possible. All the team needed to advance was for either Austria or Algeria to win in the group-stage final match that they were playing against one another. I won\u2019t go into how crazy the ending of this match was, but suffice it to say, it ended in the most dramatic tie I (and I think almost anyone) had ever seen, and it resulted in Iran\u2019s seventh World Cup appearance ending without the team ever reaching the knockout stage.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-world-cup-and-america-250\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The World Cup and America 250<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For us here in the U.S., the tournament has arrived during a period of heightened national reflection tied to our 250th anniversary. Our founding principles, articulated in 1776, emphasized self-reliance, resolve in the face of adversity, and the courage to compete on terms of one\u2019s own choosing. The current generation of American players and supporters engages with the sport in a landscape where domestic leagues and youth development have grown substantially over recent decades, and the USMNT\u2019s run to the Round of 16 \u2014 its deepest since 2014 \u2014 offered a glimpse of that continued growth, even if its loss to Belgium cut the run short of the quarterfinals that many of us had been hoping for. (No, the \u201cUSMNT\u201d acronym you\u2019ve been seeing everywhere these past few weeks does not stand for \u201cUnited States Mutant Ninja Turtles\u201d! It stands for \u201cUnited States Men\u2019s National Team.\u201d But every time I see those five letters, the five-year-old Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lover in me can\u2019t help but think, \u201cWait, Michelangelo and Leonardo are playing for us?!\u201d)<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump\u2019s direct involvement in this World Cup \u2014 through the task force, his public statements, his phone call to Infantino on Balogun\u2019s behalf, and his coming turn presenting the trophy at MetLife Stadium \u2014 aligns with his consistent emphasis on strength, spectacle, and unapologetic national pride. His administration\u2019s approach to the tournament echoes his earlier engagements with sports, as I\u2019ve been chronicling in these pages over the past few years. This World Cup has given him a similar platform on a much larger international scale \u2014 one which will culminate on July 19 when we\u2019ll get to say something that we haven\u2019t said since Alexander Hamilton dueled Aaron Burr: The eyes of the world are on (gulp!) New Jersey! (FanDuel has the over\/under at 0.5 for the number of times that players during that match will use the \u201ceverything is legal in New Jersey\u201d line from Lin-Manuel Miranda\u2019s musical.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the Round of 16 now complete and the quarterfinals set to run from July 9 through July 11, the 2026 World Cup retains ample capacity for further surprises and defining performances. Morocco faces France in a rematch of the 2022 semifinal; Spain, in the quarterfinals for the first time since its title run in 2010, meets a resurgent Belgium; and Norway\u2019s Erling Haaland (\u201cSoccer Thor,\u201d as I like to call him) squares off against England. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4624248\/faith-free-expression-america-250\/\"><strong>CONSCIENCE ON THE CAP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the United States, our tournament ended with mixed feelings: a group-stage title, a first Round of 16 appearance since 2014, a controversy that could follow our program for years (though, let\u2019s be real \u2014\u00a0 the red card should\u2019ve never been given out in the first place), and an elimination that will sting for some time. Beyond the actual play on the field, this tournament will be measured by how effectively we, as host nation, balanced our dual roles: enthusiastic participant and responsible convener.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the final matches unfold across the country and millions continue to follow from afar, the World Cup continues to affirm that strength and determination remain central to both sporting success and national vitality. In the arena of nations, as on the pitch, those who prepare thoroughly, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/daily-wire-launches-razor-company-takes-aim-at-woke-harrys-razors\/\" title=\"Daily Wire Launches Razor Company, Takes Aim At \u2018Woke\u2019 Harry\u2019s Razors\">compete directly<\/a>, and refuse to yield ground unnecessarily position themselves to endure and prevail. The 2026 World Cup, staged during our 250th anniversary (raise a glass to freedom!), has offered a sustained opportunity to observe those principles in action, right up through the final whistle on those dueling grounds in Jersey on July 19. (Current odds on FanDuel for a World Cup finalist using the line \u201cwe are not throwing away our shot!\u201d in a pre-final social media post are at +150. Odds that they\u2019ll use a Tony Soprano GIF instead: -150.) <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Daniel Ross Goodman (@DanRossGoodman) is a <\/em>Washington Examiner <em>contributing writer and teaches theology and religious studies at St. John\u2019s University. His next book, <\/em>Dante\u2019s Guide to Life: How The Divine Comedy Can Change Our Fortunes, Our World, and Ourselve<em>s,<\/em> <em>will be published this fall by Angelico Press.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2026 World Cup: Largest ever, 48 teams, 16 venues, U.S., Canada, Mexico<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2854,"featured_media":2628411,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Feat.WorldCup1.071526.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[5374,82563,7478,3847,47370],"class_list":["post-2628410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-america","tag-international-event","tag-soccer","tag-sports","tag-world-cup"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Feat.WorldCup1.071526.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2628410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2854"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2628410"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2628410\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2628414,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2628410\/revisions\/2628414"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2628411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2628410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2628410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2628410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}