We Are the Camp Counselors of the World A 2026 World Cup Story

Published 6/28/26

A soccer field with life lessons from the world cup

On Monday, June 15th, I woke up and before getting out of bed did my usual TikTok scroll. I admit, I know this isn’t the best start to the day and more often than not I regret that compulsive behavior.

However, that morning, I felt like the TikTok gods (the algorithm often feels somewhat cosmic, no?) smiled down on me because I was fed this carousel of a man from Lawrence, Kansas. In it, he’s thanking the country of Algeria for choosing their hometown as their base camp ahead of their first match in the 2026 World Cup.

And the way my eyes welled up at these simple words. Because isn’t that the true encapsulation of what we should be striving for as Americans? “We don’t know too much, but we want to welcome you here!” That’s a mantra I know I could adopt: Kindness first. Curiosity and a willingness to learn always. Trust and pride in our fellow community members that we’ll be a soft place for others to land.

Before I go on, you should know something about me: I know nothing about the World Cup. In fact, I know nothing about soccer. (Sorry to the CEO of Chatbooks, who in fact loves soccer and as a result has made Chatbooks a proud sponsor of Burnley in the UK. Love you guys.) However, I do love sports. I’ve always been somewhat of a sports spectator, cheerleader, and enthusiast. I love how sports can bring people together, give places to interesting conversation, and especially create a sense of community unlike any other.

So, back to my experience on TikTok that morning: Because of the aforementioned cosmic algorithm, I started getting fed more videos of the 2026 World Cup. I saw young people from Japan visit Texas and scream, “Texas is good! Everything is big!” into a camera with a look of pure euphoria. I saw a crowd of hundreds of Scots gather in a bar in Boston and do a rendition of “Country Roads, Take Me Home” with an adorably charming accent. And let us not forget about Freddy, the German man who is going viral for his American experiences, including the wonder that only a Waffle House can provide (at 1am).

Seeing these people experience my everyday conveniences through new eyes really moved me. And it moved my fellow countrymen, because the best part of these videos were the comments of other Americans. They, like me, were experiencing something that has often felt lost in today’s rocky political and cultural landscape: pride. A few honorable mentions from those comments:

“we are the camp counselors of the world rn”
“we need to have sleepovers with other countries more often”
“feels like America finally got to host the family reunion”
and my personal favorite: “one thing people forget: part of our culture is our perseverance and optimism. It’s in our blood. That’s the carry over from our immigrant ancestors. It’s our defining trait.”

That comment reminded me of something that I believe every American should take pride in: we are a friendly people. Kindness is something that comes inherent with the location. Smiling at strangers on the street is not unusual. In fact, it’s routine. And knowing that the majority of my fellow countrymen have made that decision to have kindness as a backbone of their lifestyle makes me feel patriotic in a way that I have no shame in admitting.

So, as we continue for the rest of this month to celebrate this unique World Cup, I hope we remember to be the amazing hosts we are. Not because of any political, social, or cultural association we identify with, but because, as individuals, our best trait as Americans is that we are friendly and kind. We build community, we embrace diversity, and it’s part of our heritage to be optimistic. That’s the true American pride. (Plus–it’s kind of nice to be able to go to a diner at 2 in the morning or see the most amazing sunset over the parking lot of a Walmart or eat complimentary chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant without even “earning” it. That’s also why we’ve got American pride.)