There’s a particular kind of nervous excitement that comes over me whenever the World Cup rolls around, even though I’ve never played the sport seriously. As someone who usually watches baseball or basketball, the global spectacle feels both thrilling and oddly intimidating, a reminder that I’m stepping into a world I barely understand.
To make sense of it all, I turned to Leander Schaerlaeckens, a longtime columnist for The Guardian and the author of the recent book The Long Game. In a relaxed interview, Schaerlaeckens walked me through the history of the U.S. men’s national team, the ramifications of the tournament’s recent expansion, and the way American politics and infrastructure are beginning to shape the beautiful game.
We discussed how the United States has moved from a peripheral player to a host nation with serious ambitions, and how that shift is reflected in everything from stadium construction to youth development programs. The conversation also touched on the broader impact of the larger field, which now includes more teams and therefore more storylines to follow.
From the established powerhouses of France and Portugal to the fresh faces of Erling Haaland and Cristiano Ronaldo making their tournament debuts, the landscape is shifting. Each match brings a new narrative, and the influx of talent from outside traditional strongholds is reshaping expectations.
Schaerlaeckens also pointed out that the United States’ political climate and its investment in transportation and urban planning are quietly influencing how the tournament is experienced on the ground, from fan travel to citywide celebrations.