Moments of respect, love, and humanity worth holding onto
“Character, not difference, determines connection. Build yours.” – Lisa Merlo-Booth
The 2026 World Cup has been a blast.
Celebrating, embracing, and honoring differences reminded us of the best part of humanity—connection. Norwegians rowing through stadiums, towns, and airports; Scotland’s “Tartan Army” marching in kilts, drinking and singing joyfully in the streets, bars, and stadiums; the tears and cheers for Cape Verde’s improbable run to the round of 32; Japan’s quiet mastery of respect—on the pitch, in the stands, in the locker room—honoring their cultural principle of Tatsu tori ato wo nigosazu (“A leaving bird does not muddy the water”) through bows to the traveling fans, spotless locker rooms and stadiums, and handwritten thank-you notes left behind after every match.
Differences weren’t just embraced—they were a welcome salve to a growing wound in America. Surprisingly fun. Surprisingly connecting.
Powerful takeaways:
- You can compete without hating your opponent. In fact, you can compete against—and love, have compassion for, and admire—your opponent. There were so many examples of mutual love and respect between opposing players it almost took my breath away. It feels like it’s been a very long time since I’ve seen this kind of respect on display in this country. Jude Bellingham of England and Erling Haaland of Norway gave us a master class in courageously competing with vigor, passion, respect, and even love. And while not all players need to love one another (lol), there is no place for hate on the pitch—or off it.
- Those with the greatest character have the greatest support and the biggest fans. The teams with character far outweighed those without, leaving the character-less teams to stand out like sore thumbs. When you play to win “at all costs” and believe “the end justifies the means,” you suck the air out of the room. Whether you’re scuffing up the penalty spot, elbowing a player in the gut, or starting fights after a loss, what’s shining through is your poor character, not your athletic skill. From red cards to lost matches to injuries, the ones who shined the most were the ones courageous enough to take the hits without shaming, blaming, or attacking their opponents. Few things require more strength, and it was incredibly refreshing to see it, time and time again.
- You can win with class and you can lose with class. Or you can be a jerk who wins or a jerk who loses—you decide. Being a jerk speaks to your character; winning or losing speaks to the game. Although the dramatic falls were beyond annoying, at the end of the day, many teams won and lost with character. You watched players on winning teams consoling players on losing teams, coaches speak positively about opponents—win or lose—and compassion shine through at every turn. And when players, the press, or even rogue Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla showed their lack of character through racist comments or vile verbal attacks on players from any country, much of the world was having none of it—even if that meant the United Nations had to step in (e.g., the UN condemning Senator Amarilla’s racist remarks) (The UN Condemns Paraguayan Senators Racism). Ahh, beyond refreshing!
- Your country can lose—and still be celebrated, and deserve to be celebrated. When the Norwegian team lost, they went home heroes. Norwegians welcomed them with a massive celebration. Flags were flying, citizens were cheering, and their nation was proud of their team. Norway didn’t go home “losers.” They went home proud, hard-working athletes, admired for working their butts off to represent their country on the world soccer stage. And they weren’t the only “losing” country cheered. Kudos to the leadership in all countries who celebrated the hard work of their tams. Hats off to the coaches, citizens, non-citizens, and the entire country for a warm-hearted, powerful display of support.
The World Cup was a refreshing break from the hate and divisiveness that has taken hold in the U.S. It was a powerful reminder of what unity and connection feel like, even when you’re on opposing teams. American fans joined together cheering “other” countries in ways we haven’t done in a very long time. This World Cup showed us what the best of humanity is all about. We watched police sit on the beach rowing in camaraderie with the Norwegians, fans cheering for the underdogs from Cape Verde, and Bostonians embracing the Tartan Army’s beloved “coning” tradition so warmly that it sparked an official sister-city bond between Boston and Glasgow (Scotland and Boston Connect).
Whew. What an overwhelming, much-needed lesson in mutual respect, compassion, healthy competition, unity, and above all, powerful human connection. Thank you to all the athletes, coaches, fans, and courageous human beings who showed up with open hearts and reminded us what’s possible when we choose connection over division.
Challenge: The overall camaraderie of this World Cup has felt like a salve to a wound our country has badly needed. Norway’s rowing fans, the U.S.’s singing fans, and Cape Verde’s proud fans have all been a much-needed reminder of what happens when people embrace differences, compete with respect, and connect through our humanity rather than our “sides.” I challenge all of us to embrace these pivotal lessons we’ve watched played out by human beings across the globe—Black, white, and brown; African, European, American, Mexican, and beyond. May this World Cup be a reminder of all that unites us—in our sameness and our differences.
