How the ‘Beautiful Game’ Is Deflecting America’s Political Turmoil NYT | Top Stories By: Matthew Purdy, Jazmine Ulloa and Matthew Cullen 4 July 2026 at 22:13 Amid protests and rancor, World Cup soccer proves a bright spot in the United States and around the world. © Doug Barrett/ReutersLocal fans of Algeria’s team, whose home base for the 2026 World Cup soccer tournament is at the nearby University of Kansas take part in a street party before the game against Argentina, in Lawrence, Kansas.