LETTER: The summer of football

Letter: The Summer of Football For one singular summer, America opened its doors to the world. Visitors were greeted with professionalism, strangers with dignity, and disagreements were met with confidence. The author writes that what struck them about the 2026 World Cup was not merely the goals or the crowds, but the realization that they recognized their own state again. The tournament demonstrated that political disagreement need not hinder cooperation. Federal agencies collaborated with municipal governments, police ensured the safety of visitors of every nationality, businesses adjusted their operations, workers tackled challenges, and volunteers assisted strangers without inquiring about their political affiliations. No one was required to endorse a partisan stance before contributing something useful. These small actions accumulated, fostering competence, hospitality, and trust. They became the world’s perception of America. The World Cup did not create a new American character; it revealed the quality that partisan noise had obscured. America remains divided, but it is not incapable of collaboration. Its institutions are strained, yet they are not uniformly ineffective. Its leaders can be toxic, but leadership has not erased the nation’s identity. We welcomed the world with professionalism. Now we must invite one another back into the shared endeavor of preserving our republic.