The USMNT’s World Cup Win Is a Reminder of the America We Still Can Be

LOS ANGELES, CA — The United States Men’s National Team opened its 2026 World Cup campaign with a commanding 4–1 victory over Paraguay, a performance that electrified fans across the country and reminded us — if only for a night — of the power of coming together. Folarin Balogun, and Gio Reyna delivered the goals, but the real story was the team itself: a roster whose roots stretch across Latin America, Africa, the Caribbean, and Europe. The USMNT is more than a soccer team. It is a living portrait of the multicultural nation we are, and the nation we still aspire to be.

That matters now more than ever. We are living through one of the most politically polarized moments in modern American history. The Trump administration has been widely criticized by civil rights groups and international organizations for policies that restrict entry into the United States for certain foreign nationals — policies that have even affected fans and FIFA referees attempting to enter the country for the World Cup. When a global celebration of unity is taking place on our soil, it is painful to see barriers erected that keep some of the world’s people out.

And yet, inside stadiums and fan zones, something different is happening. Something hopeful. Something American.

Sports — like music, art, and food — have always had the power to bring people together, even if only briefly. For 90 minutes, millions of Americans who disagree on almost everything found themselves cheering for the same team, the same goals, the same dream. In a divided nation, that is no small thing.

You can see this unity in places far from the pitch. In Seattle, for example, Washington Latino News recently reported on a beautiful scene during the city’s World Cup festivities: traditional Mexican Catrinas — the iconic figures of Día de los Muertos — appearing in full costume among the crowds. They weren’t part of an official event. They were part of the community. Fans from every background stopped to take photos, ask questions, and share in the moment. The Catrinas became a symbol of Latino pride, yes — but also of something bigger. They showed how culture can invite connection, how tradition can spark curiosity, how celebration can dissolve division. That is the World Cup at its best. That is America at its best.

Traditional Catrinas bring Latino pride to Seattle’s FIFA World Cup

Women dressed in Mexican and Canadian traditional costumes holding flags against a city skyline at sunset.

I have believed in the unifying power of sports my entire career. From 2011 to 2018, when I served as Director of Multicultural Content at ESPN, I helped launch One Nación, a bilingual, bicultural editorial initiative built on a simple truth: sports can bridge divides that politics cannot. One Nación told stories that reflected the full breadth of the U.S. Latino experience — in English and Spanish — and connected fans across cultures through the shared language of competition, pride, and passion. After I left ESPN, the initiative was discontinued. But today, as publisher of the Latino News Network, I am bringing One Nación back. Because our country needs it more than ever. One Nación was a great idea then — and a necessary idea now.

ESPN and ESPN Deportes debut One Nación in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month

The USMNT’s victory over Paraguay will be remembered for its goals and its implications for the tournament. But it should also be remembered for what it revealed about us. Despite the noise, despite the division, despite the forces pulling us apart, we are still capable of coming together. We are still capable of seeing ourselves in one another. We are still capable of celebrating the diversity that defines us.

For one night, America cheered as one nation. The challenge — and the opportunity — is to carry that spirit beyond the final whistle.

The USMNT’s World Cup Win Is a Reminder of the America We Still Can Be was first published on the Latino News Network and was republished with permission.

Hugo Balta is the executive editor of The Fulcrum and the publisher of the Latino News Network, and twice president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.