Mr. Bennett is the founder of the Men in Blazers Media Network and the author of “We Are the World (Cup).”

The World Cup is like an eclipse that strikes the whole planet.

Despite the drumbeat of catastrophizing in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup, the tournament has, so far, been a life-affirming marvel of collective effervescence.

The vibe shift arrived the moment Argentine forward Lionel Messi took the field, and when the United States quickly joined the teams catalyzing........

© The New York Times