Americans are far from optimistic about our future. According to a recent Pew Research poll, 69% of us are dissatisfied with the way things are going, and 59% believe the United States’ best days are behind it. When asked to predict what America will be like 25 years from now, a majority said it will be more dangerous, more divided, worse off economically, and less influential in world affairs. 

In other words, the World Cup could not have come at a more crucial time.  

One sporting event will not reverse a years-long trend toward pessimism, or make the very real challenges facing our country disappear. But this Cup has nevertheless served as a reminder that America can still deliver on the same revolutionary promise that was made 250 years ago. 

While the tournament was not without its fair share of controversy, everyday Americans showed the world that we can still achieve great things on our own terms. 

This year’s World Cup wasn’t just a soccer tournament. It was among the biggest global events in human history. Millions of in-person attendees traveled to stadiums across North America to cheer on 1,248 players from 48 countries. More than 100 broadcasters reached a combined viewership of well over 2 billion on television and billions more on social media. More than 400 government agencies were involved in security alone.

The 2026 Cup was not an exclusively American undertaking. There were three host nations, and five of the 16 host cities were located in either Canada or Mexico. Even so, it was clear from the beginning that the tournament's success depended on the United States. Seventy-five percent of the........

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