World Cup

I suspect that both progressives and Donald Trump have reason to resent the World Cup — though for very different reasons.

For progressives, the tournament has inadvertently produced an extended advertisement for American life. To be sure, the visitors arriving to watch their teams play are largely affluent by their countries’ standards— international travel requires both money and time. But the news has been filled with accounts of guests marveling at things ordinary Americans take entirely for granted: Buc-ee’s, Costco, Chick-fil-A, bottomless chips and salsa, free refills, the quality of the housing stock, and, perhaps above all, air conditioning. But even I was blown away the first time I walked into a Buc-ee’s. Who wouldn’t be?

One British visitor reportedly quipped that asking for a free refill back home would be like “asking for a second mortgage.” He must have been in the south because once I asked for a refill in a northern restaurant and was looked at as if I were speaking in tongues.

All of this enthusiasm for American abundance must sit uneasily with those who spend their days cataloguing the country’s failures. The familiar complaints about “affordability” and the perils of Trumpism ring a little hollow when voiced by people riding around in Teslas, chatting on iPhones, and sipping lattes — while visitors from around the world wish they had it so bad. We take abundance for granted because abundance is what most Americans have always known. Not true for most of the planet.

Trump, meanwhile, has his own reasons for discomfort. His sustained campaign against America’s allies — attacking NATO, imposing tariffs, threatening to annex Greenland, and alienating Canada — has taken a measurable toll on tourism and, by extension, on economic growth. Tourism accounts for roughly three percent of U.S. GDP, and tourism had been declining as a response to Trump’s actions. Canadians, in particular, have responded to Trump’s provocations by boycotting American goods and canceling vacations stateside. The World Cup has temporarily reversed that trend, injecting money into the economy and, more importantly, giving millions of visitors a chance to experience this wonderful country firsthand. Many stereotypes, one imagines, did not survive the encounter. In many ways Trump embodies the caricature of the “ugly American” — yet the Americans themselves have shown the world a warmer, more generous side.

The Scottish invasion of Boston has received the most attention. Videos of Scottish fans singing in pubs, marching through city streets, and trading banter with locals have racked up millions of views online, earning Boston the affectionate nickname “New Scotland.” But the phenomenon has played out in every host city. Who knew that ranch dressing would be a revelation? 

Another visitor was taken by Indiana:

“Indiana is exactly how I dreamed America would be — small towns, wide open spaces, cornfields, barns, cute houses, diners, water towers, friendly people, great food, American flags everywhere, and so much more!”

Indiana? I haven’t seen reaction of visitors to Atlanta where 250,000 descended on the city and turned downtown into a festival. But it should be noted that some host stadiums dramatically increased their concession prices. Not so at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz stadium where the prices were shockingly low. 

What are the prices for food and drinks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium?

The prices for food and drinks at the stadium include:

• Fountain Coke products – $2
• Hot dogs – $2
• Fries – $3
• Draft beer – $5
• Bottled water – $3
• Popcorn – $2
• Pizza slice – $3
• Cheeseburger – $5
• Pretzel – $3
• Nachos w/ cheese – $3
• Fountain Coke products in a souvenir cup – $4
• Chicken tender basket w/ french fries – $6

 My son, a retired Waffle House executive, would be delighted by this one.

All of this wonderment at a different culture brought to mind the Babylon Bee’s spoof of two Californians adjusting to life in Texas: https://babylonbee.com/video/californians-adjust-to-new-life-in-texas

I doubt if the progressives will stop bad mouthing America. But maybe people will start to realize that most of what they say is an exaggerated lie. And also maybe, just maybe the president might reconsider all the damage he has done to the country and to the world with his threats and tariffs and start walking them back.

Fat chance. 

But thank you, World Cup.