Why I pull against the U.S. in the World Cup

I love the United States; it’s the country that took in my grandfathers and provided me with comfort and meaningful engagement. But today when the US plays Portugal in the World Cup, I imagine I’ll be pulling for Portugal, just as I found myself screaming my throat hoarse for Ghana last week against the U.S. in a lost cause. My feelings about these games are instinctual. Why do I have them and how do I justify them? Well:

–We have too much. We dominate the world’s culture and finances, our language is all over the FIFA promotion of the contest. Why should we get this too?

–It’s not even our game. Our best athletes go into other sports– which produce a lot more concussions. Let countries that put their hearts into this game savor its great rewards.

–The World Cup is the world’s stage, and the joy of the World Cup is watching third world or marginalized nations achieve dignity in the eyes of humanity. African teams are the ultimate underdogs. I pull for any African team to go through, and Ghana, Nigeria and Ivory Coast all have a shot. And the great Iranian team has gained an international following.

–I write about the Middle East and try and fight racism against Arabs. This World Cup has seen a number of wonderful goals scored by athletes of Arab background, Karim Benzema of France, and Marouane Fellaini of Belgium, Sofiane Feghouli of Algeria. How can you not watch these athletes without reflecting that, as Chris Matthews said the other night, the U.S. kills Arabs when it goes to war, “that’s what we do.” Steve Walt estimated a few years back that we’ve killed 288,000 Muslims in the last 30 years.

I don’t like identity politics, but I find that I just can’t separate these politics from the great spectacle of the World Cup.

And it’s been a great World Cup, with one surprise after another, high-scoring dramatic games, late goals. Yes I know it’s a fete of nationalism, but if you’re going to celebrate the nation, let it be the little ones. How can anyone want the imperial powers to win? I want small countries that have been overlooked and squatted on and crushed to distinguish themselves. The triumphs of Nigeria and the Ivory Coast and Costa Rica and Chile have been thrilling. Ghana’s performance against Germany in the second half yesterday, and Germany’s right back at em, has been considered the best soccer of the tournament. Iran’s near-draw against Argentina was valiant and inspiring, as Hassan Rouhani noted.

Well played to our Persian Cheetahs! It might not be the result you deserved but great effort & heads held high! #TeamMelli

— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) June 21, 2014

And any goal by any African player is a source of pride for a continent treated as a source of minerals and slaves and anthropology by Europe and the U.S.

If this World Cup has demonstrated anything to a dedicated viewer, it’s that the world is one, that race is a superficial category that has less and less meaning, and the nation isn’t far behind. People immigrate wherever they can to do better in a globalized era. Iran’s Ashkan Dejagah and the U.S. substitute/star John Brooks are both from Berlin, I can’t keep the Boatengs straight, the Swiss team is led by Albanians, a man of Turkish descent is the hardest-working German, and Balotelli is– Balotelli.

Of course the U.S. is a nation of immigrants, and our team is a rainbow. Some day I know I’ll pull for the U.S. with pride. When it feels like there’s a more even playing field.