How the World Cup brought out the best and worst of America

How the World Cup brought out the best and worst of America Submitted by Joseph Fahim on Tue, 07/14/2026 - 09:10 Football's message has always been rooted in egalitarianism, but our writer says the US has left a very noticeable mark on the world's most popular sporting event Mostafa Ziko celebrates scoring Egypt's second goal during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt in Atlanta on 7 July (AFP) Off Since Trump’s second coming, I have tried to avoid discussing politics with my Arab- American family. In previous Middle East Eye articles , I chronicled my family’s conservative politics, which often stood at odds with their views on Gaza - a wholehearted embrace of Trumpism and an accompanying disdain for non-white immigration - despite being of Arab immigrant origin themselves. Over the past 15 months, however, I have sensed a shift among some relatives, ranging from embarrassed scepticism to outright dismissal of Trump’s handling of both the economy and foreign policy.