Social Media, the World Cup, and Why Americans are Desperate to be the "Good Guy" | American Abroad

Global citizens of all kinds came to America for the World Cup and discovered bottomless refills, portion sizes, and American friendliness — and Americans were busting their buttons with pride. The Norwegian rowed. The Mexicans partied. The Koreans chanted. Cabo Verde humbled us all. The vibes were IMMACULATE. Until suddenly, they weren't anymore.

Social media is NOT reality, but it is a tool through which we can view the zeitgeist and take the wider cultural temperature. So what did the 2026 World Cup, viewed through the lens of vibes, tell us about America? What was the narrative? What did Americans WANT it to be? Why do we have this overwhelming desire to always be the good guy?

I'm not a sports girl, but I do love a spectacle and what it teaches us.