Opinion: Why the World Cup Mattered in Alameda

As a possibly overzealous and proselytizing sports fan (see my February 2025 Alameda Post opinion piece entitled Sports, Black History Month, and American Values ^[1]), I want to speak to those who are saddened by the close of the FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament—and hopefully help those who weren’t able to watch it—to see what I mean. And although this piece is about Alameda’s response, I encourage everyone to search for World Cup stories and prepare to be enthralled, excited, and emotionally moved by what took place on the pitches in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and in each host city.

^[2]

Beyond our basic human needs (oxygen, food, water and shelter) and our shared beliefs (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness), one could argue that the next thing most people across the globe hold in common is the love of soccer/futbol. It may not yet—or ever—be our national game here in the United States, but it is unequivocally the world’s game. And every four years, we are the world.

Here on this island, from June 11 to July 19, a competitive kumbaya was felt, tasted, and cheered. The vibe was athletic, international, and passionate but most wonderfully it was community. Fans sporting jerseys for their favorite player or team, businesses giving out adorable soccer merch, and restaurant after restaurant adding TV screens, signs, and specials to encourage fans to enter, imbibe, and cheer for their squad. The variety of flavors was enticing, from tacos at Calafia while cheering for Mexico, sauerbraten at Speisekammer where the fans of Germany gathered, or popcorn and soda while watching matches with a packed audience at the Alameda Theatre.

I watched games all over town. I sat next to an Asian woman who was wild for Argentina, chatted with a blond-haired lad who was mad for Spain, and heard people correctly pronounce Mbappé (mmm-BAH-pay)—the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot winner who plays as a forward for for Spain’s Real Madrid and captains the France national team.

^[4]

This athletic tournament, this celebration of what is often called “the beautiful game,” also came at a time in this country where many who make up our immigrant core are both feeling threatened and being threatened. So to see so many countries’ teams—from the USA to Norway, Italy to Ghana—made up of so many different kinds of people was thrilling. I don’t understand the rules that qualify a player to play for a national team, but there is joy in seeing so many different skin colors covered by so many colorful jerseys—not to mention the many wonderful varieties of hair atop the footballers’ heads. And as with so many team sports, to see a goal scorer mobbed by his teammates, not all of whom speak the same language fluently, was to see the democracy of sports—you play hard for our team, you are my brother.

Four years is a long time to wait for this kind of thing again, but there are ways to hold on to a little of this unique joy. Check out the Little Kickers soccer program at the So Five facility at 800 West Tower Avenue, shop for soccer gear at the Soccer Post at South Shore, and follow the Oakland Roots here in the Post or go see them play at the Oakland Coliseum (while they’re still there ^[5]). And if you see anyone sporting the red jersey of Spain, be happy for them and call out “well played,” for they are the champions my friend.

Gene Kahane is the founder of the Foodbank Players ^[6], a lifelong teacher, and former Poet Laureate for the City of Alameda. Reach him at [email protected] ^[7]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Gene-Kahane ^[8].