They share moments of joy and agony, coexisting and bumping into each other.
For example, Egypt and Iran will play in Seattle during the city's Pride celebration. Both nations criminalize diverse sexuality, but they will have to confront that reality.
This is the best of sport: making people confront each other in the real world, appreciating that they are not simply cyphers or hostile entities.
The World Cup may not unite the world, but it holds up a useful hand mirror.
It provides a model of the best of what the US is supposed to be: a place on the human scale, an idea that fits into your hand.
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It reminds us that hating this place, like hating anywhere else, is to fall into the trap of those who weaponize division.
