What the World Cup teaches every soccer fan (yes, even after the USMNT's elimination) | OneFootball

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. Even if you have never put on cleats or attempted a bicycle kick, globally, soccer demonstrates the differences and similarities that we all share. This works on multiple levels and is universal, which makes soccer the beautiful game.

Soccer is a leveler. The rules apply to everyone. People may try to manipulate the rules in their favor, but it is up to a person trained in the rules to use their educated judgment. Even when people disagree, it provides a fair opportunity for all, which allows upsets and reparations for players denied an opportunity to showcase their talents.

Talent can only get you so far. There is a point where the athletes who train harder succeed. They overtake the athlete who was born with talent but never pushes themselves. In order to be great, the talent-born player needs to outwork everyone. While this doesn't apply to most people, it leaves the door open to people who work hard to improve themselves regardless of limitations.

Overcoming adversity. For every player we see on television, there are multiple reasons why they should fail. Yet they press on. These reasons vary from substance abuse to a teammate's family crisis to injuries. Everyone has reasons to quit, but the people we watch have pushed through these obstacles and are willing to make a go of it.

With every World Cup, there are moments of elation for some simultaneously with crushing disappointment for others. How they handle those moments reveals their character. While US fans are disappointed at the exit of their team, in the big picture they performed as expected, more or less. Realistically, they had little chance of beating Spain in the next round. It was unfortunate that Christian Roldan did not see time on the pitch, as he was hampered by injury and missed his opportunity to perform.

Ironically, it was the team that Seattle was hosting, Belgium, that knocked them out here in Seattle. Sharing different cultures is an enriching experience. Seattle may have lost some of its luster in the eyes of the USMNT players who had mentioned the Sounders as a possible club choice for the future, but Seattle was a good host and represented itself with pride.

As the rounds advance, the competition grows more intense, which shapes good players into great players and elevates special moments into the realm of iconic. Once fans' home nations are out, there is more attention to these moments since people have no bias other than what they consider brilliant.

There is always hope for the future, but for the remaining rounds of the tournament, there will no doubt be those moments that take your breath away, and that is why we watch. Perhaps "stoppage time" is the most fitting time for these moments. Fans hold their breath; maybe their heart skips a beat, everything slows down, preparing for an emotional response. Then all at once, whether it be a goal or a final whistle , all that tension is released. When this happens with thousands of people simultaneously, it is a shared experience, and that alone makes the moment epic.

Humanity can be broken down by those moments; they are just easier to recognize in sports.

Politics plays its role, from the choice of location, in this case, the treatment of teams in various settings. There are always undertones of frustration and despair regarding things that happen off the pitch. Sometimes there are cultural things that detract from the game, such as racial or homophobic comments, but most people tune in for those moments of magic that cause fans to doubt what they just witnessed.

In a world that is increasingly fixated on violence, soccer gives some reprieve. It unites people. From local communities that identify with their team to fans across the globe, soccer unites and allows us to be part of something like no other sport. This globalization is a fraternity where people share experiences, but have the liberty to identify with their team.

While this does happen at the club level, and it did my heart good to see Clint Dempsey and be reminded of his magical moments as a Sounder, it is amplified at the World Cup, where we can remember all the goals he scored for all Americans.