With the group stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup drawing to a close, it means that a lot of countries’ soccer journeys in America are coming to an end.
Which is a shame, because the visiting fans from those nations really seemed to have enjoyed their time here, and who could blame them?
From Freddy’s well-documented road trip throughout the United States to Scotland’s full-scale invasion of every bar and pub along the Eastern Seaboard, it’s been fun to follow the exploits of fans from all corners of the world during this year’s tournament.
While everyone hasn’t been thrilled about foreign visitors speaking so glowingly with regard to America, an unlikely source sees this World Cup for what it is: a rousing success for the United States and its public image.
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Liberal talk show host and comedian Bill Maher dedicated a segment on his show “Real Time” to the people who made this tournament as memorable off the pitch as the teams that play on it.
“I am loving that the World Cup has brought to our shores all of these people that are doing Americans the service of reminding us, just when we needed it, on our big (250th) birthday, that actually, this place is kind of awesome,” Maher said, as he was met with raucous cheers and applause.
Sure, Maher had his usual moments of poking fun with his dry wit, saying he saw more scoring “at a Star Trek convention” (an admittedly funny line), but he was also effusive with his praise for the tournament as a whole.
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Maher reminded everyone that, while there are problems that need to be addressed in this country, no one is perfect.
“The name of our country is ‘America,’ not ‘Utopia,'” Maher remarked. “We can’t be more perfect than what’s in your mind, we can only be more perfect than Belgium.”
And judging by the reaction of tourists all over social media throughout the World Cup, America is about as close to perfection as anyone.
“Social media, flooded with videos of slack-jawed soccer tourists wandering around America, positively gushing about everything we take for granted, reminding us what America looks like from the outside,” Maher said.
“Just regular people looking around and saying, ‘Wow! These people live like rock stars.'”
When even an outspoken liberal like Maher can see the upside to foreign soccer fans heaping praise on his home country, it really puts into perspective how broken large swathes of the left are when it comes to these things.
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Instead of saying “you know what? America IS awesome,” leftist whackjobs are on social media are trying to correct people by pointing out our country’s perceived flaws.
Maher’s whole segment is exceptional and worth watching in its entirety, but it’s his poignant end to the monologue that really puts a bow on everything.
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“Maybe it’s a coincidence, but I think it’s something in the American system and character that we have the highest number of Nobel Prize winners, and invented the light bulb, the telephone, the smartphone, the airplane, personal computers, and the party-sized bag of Xtra Flamin’ Hot Cheetos,” he said.
Couldn’t have said it better myself, Billy.
Do me and all your other fellow patriots a favor, and show some extra love to your country on its 250th birthday next weekend.
If the people who don’t even live here can do it, then so can you.
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