2026 FIFA World Cup Kicks Off in North America
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially kicked off, with Canada, the United States, and Mexico collaborating to host the tournament featuring 48 teams.
As of Thursday afternoon, just one match has occurred, where Mexico triumphed over South Africa with a score of 2-0 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. With 103 matches still to come, the World Cup will unfold in some remarkable venues across the nation.
But some sports columnists, particularly those leaning left, seem to think the outcome is already predetermined. Spoiler alert: America comes out on the losing end.
FIFA President Trump recently emphasized Iran’s welcome involvement in the World Cup, a rather controversial comment given the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
USA Today columnist Nancy Armor shared some rather extreme views about the World Cup and America’s success as a host nation. She claimed that irrespective of how well the U.S. men’s national team performs, the country has exposed itself as a “hateful and greedy nation.”
Armor wrote, “The U.S. men’s national team could be on a historic run, and the tournament could be filled with great goals and engaging games. Nevertheless, we’ve revealed our nature as a hateful and greedy country—where leaders only welcome the world they wish to see rather than the world that exists, where the love for the game is exploited for profit.”
Instead of showcasing the nation positively, she contends, we’ve chosen to embody the stereotype of “ugly Americans.”
“That’s the legacy of this World Cup, which is truly unfortunate. This is a rare chance to represent the best of America and celebrate the joy soccer brings worldwide. Yet, we opted for the ‘ugly American’ approach.”
What exactly makes Americans “ugly”? Well, naturally, it’s Donald Trump!
New York City mayoral candidate Mandani labeled the $6,000 ticket prices for finals at MetLife Stadium as “ridiculous.”
There’s also the contentious topic of ticket pricing. Many fans are voicing their concerns about how the steep costs will distance those unable to afford it from attending. While this observation is reasonable, it’s essential to note that the U.S. government isn’t the entity responsible for ticket prices set by FIFA.
The issue with Armor’s article is that it appears driven more by emotion and a critique of the country rather than by factual evidence. Would she have raised similar concerns if the Biden administration had taken similar measures regarding individuals linked to terrorism? Probably not. Yet, one can’t overlook the potential irony of how policies differ based on leadership.
It’s worth acknowledging that the last World Cup in 2022 was hosted by Qatar, a country criticized for its treatment of migrant workers. Although Aamer has rightly condemned the Qatari government’s human rights record, equating Qatar’s hosting with the United States’ is, at best, a stretch.
Interestingly, Aamer referenced NYC Mayor Zoran Mamdani, who has criticized the Trump administration. It seems Aamer’s criticism would have remained constant regardless of the context surrounding the Iranian national team’s ties. Her feelings about Trump seem to overshadow her analysis.
Despite the challenges, many believe the U.S. is an excellent choice for the World Cup. It might not be something Armor admits anytime soon—intellectual honesty is hard to come by in such polarized discussions.
