The Real Winner Was America
“Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” is one of the world’s most recognizable songs, and after Sunday’s World Cup final, Argentina has nothing to be ashamed of.
Spain was simply the better team. From the opening whistle, the Spanish controlled possession, created scoring opportunities, and played the kind of disciplined, beautiful soccer that wins championships. Argentina fought hard until the final whistle, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was nothing short of heroic, turning away one dangerous scoring chance after another. Without his remarkable performance, the final score might have been much different.
Congratulations to Spain. They earned the championship.
But as I watched the match, it struck me that the real winner wasn’t Spain or Argentina.
The real winner was the United States of America.
For several unforgettable weeks, America welcomed the world to our shores. Millions of fans filled our stadiums, visited our cities, stayed in our hotels, ate in our restaurants, and discovered the warmth and hospitality that have always been among our nation’s greatest strengths.
In a time when politics often seem to divide us, sports remind us of something far more important. When we gather to watch a football game, a baseball game, or a World Cup soccer match, most of us leave politics outside the stadium. Republicans, Democrats, independents, and people from every nation cheer, laugh, celebrate, and occasionally groan together. For a few hours, we become fans instead of opponents.
That may be one of the greatest lessons sports can teach us.
This World Cup united people from every corner of the globe. Different languages, different cultures, different traditions—all brought together by a shared love of the game. The friendships formed and the memories created will last long after the championship trophy has been lifted.
The organizers, volunteers, host cities, and everyone involved deserve congratulations for staging a world-class event. The tournament showcased America at its best and gave millions of visitors a chance to experience the generosity and spirit of our country.
The successful effort to bring this World Cup to the United States also deserves recognition, including the leadership that helped secure the event and the many people who worked for years to make it a reality. Hosting a tournament of this scale requires cooperation among governments, sports organizations, businesses, and thousands of volunteers.
Here in Colorado, the excitement surrounding soccer is growing as well. The recent dedication of the Denver Summit’s new facilities in the City of Centennial is another reminder that the world’s game has found a home in our own backyard. Professional women’s soccer is now part of the fabric of our community, giving young athletes new role models and local fans a team to rally behind. Congratulations to the City of Centennial and to the many soccer visionaries whose hard work brought this exciting new chapter to the Denver metropolitan area.
As the final whistle blew and Spain celebrated its championship, I couldn’t help but feel proud of our own nation as well.
Perhaps, just for a little while, we can set politics aside and remember what we witnessed over these past weeks: talented young athletes competing with honor, millions of fans celebrating together in peace, and America opening its arms to the world.
That is something every American can be proud of.