Follow us on social

US primacy is relegated to the sidelines at World Cup

US primacy is relegated to the sidelines at World Cup

It's not hard to think of the world's biggest sporting event as a microcosm of our turbulent geopolitics today.

Analysis | Global Crises

Yesterday, the 22nd FIFA World Cup kicked off in Qatar. Following the expectedly grandiose opening ceremony at Al Bayt Stadium, the Qataris themselves got the tournament started, falling to Ecuador 2-0 in a rather disappointing start for the Gulf hosts.

The lead-up to this massive global spectacle has been rife with controversy, with much of the attention on the Qatari government. While such spotlight is certainly warranted, it has also become an unfortunate diversion from the event itself, one set to draw over five billion viewers from across the globe

Looking beyond the host country, this World Cup comes amid a changing global environment. We increasingly see the emergence of a multipolar world, defined in part by the ascendance of the Global South, the disparate assortment of countries across Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America. 

The landscape of soccer captures this dynamic well. Argentina and Brazil stand as two of the heavy favorites to take home the World Cup crown, with Senegal, Mexico, Uruguay, and Ecuador all fielding strong teams as well that could make deep runs in the tournament. The diverse composition of some of the European rosters — including the formidable French and Belgian teams, which have many players of African descent — also vividly illustrate the global nature of the game. 

The grouping of teams highlight geopolitical tensions as well, both contemporary and historical in nature. In particular, the pairing of France and Tunisia certainly raises some eyebrows, considering France’s colonial rule over the African nation from 1881 until 1956. 

Another group brings a more current controversy to the fore: In Group B, Western heavyweights England and the United States will square off against arch-geopolitical foe Iran, setting up a rather bitter dynamic both on and off the pitch. Add to that the fact that anti-Islamic Republic protests, springing from the state killing of a woman for alleged indecency, continue to shake Tehran to its core. The tensions between the regime and its citizens bled onto the field Monday morning, when Iran’s players stayed conspicuously silent as their national anthem blared before their first match.

Clearly, the competition extends beyond strictly that of the sporting realm, adding a political dimension to the pomp and circumstance. 

Temperate American expectations also demonstrate soccer’s multipolarity. After the U.S. failed to qualify for the last World Cup, the American public is undoubtedly excited to at least see their team compete in Qatar. A young, talented group with lots of upside, the United States ought to advance to the knockout round, in which sixteen teams remain. But a loss there seems like a reasonable prediction, and any potential run beyond that point would be a strong showing for the Americans. 

With such modest expectations, the United States remains a rather dispensable player in the world of soccer. To use a term from the modern lexicon, the World Cup has become a hubris check for the United States, an event that forces us to curb our otherwise conceited impulses on the world stage. We recognize that we are not close to the likes of perennial powerhouses such as Brazil, Argentina, or Belgium, and that is fine. 

We have responded to the global reality of soccer with restraint and a moderation of our goals. It would be refreshing to see this ethos extend beyond the pitch to how we approach the world in general. Rather than continuing to operate in a domineering manner, it is time for a sober recognition of the limitations of our power, be it cultural, economic, or military. To otherwise maintain a primacist mindset risks eroding ties with the nations of the Global South, made worse by the United States’ refusal to come to terms with a changed global landscape. 

Take the admiration for Brazilian and Argentinian fútbol and extend it to the general geopolitical realm. Discard the enduring paternalistic mindset and accept the multipolar reality. Consider diplomatic engagement over sustained military intervention. Establish realistic trade and investment goals with countries of the Global South, without forcing them to choose a side between us and China. This restrained mindset would be met with widespread approval, from your diehard soccer fan in Senegal to the newly-elected president in Brazil. 

This World Cup represents a great opportunity for the United States, particularly for those amongst the D.C. establishment who tune in to watch. Humility is a virtue, in soccer fandom and foreign policy alike.

Responsible Statecraft’s independent, authentic journalism promotes democratic accountability and poses a transpartisan challenge to militaristic foreign policy! Responsible Statecraft is the online magazine of the Quincy Institute(QI). Please help us lift up new voices of realism and military restraint with your 100% tax-deductible donation to the Quincy Institute in support of Responsible Statecraft. Donate here.


Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group B - England v Iran - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - November 21, 2022 England's Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Paul Childs TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY|(Shutterstock/ kovop58)
Analysis | Global Crises
Trump's most underrated diplomatic win: Belarus
Top image credit: Brian Jason and Siarhei Liudkevich via shutterstock.com

Trump's most underrated diplomatic win: Belarus

Europe

Rarely are foreign policy scholars and analysts blessed with as crystalline a case study in abject failure as the Western approach to Belarus since 2020. From promoting concrete security interests, advancing human rights to everything in between, there is no metric by which anything done toward Minsk can be said to have worked.

But even more striking has been the sheer sense of aggrieved befuddlement with the Trump administration for acknowledging this reality and seeking instead to repair ties with Belarus.

keep readingShow less
These Israeli-backed gangs could wreck the Gaza ceasefire
Ashraf al-Mansi walks in front of members of his Popular Army militia. The group, previously known as the Counter-Terrorism Service, has worked with the Israeli military and is considered by many in Gaza to be a criminal gang. (Via the Facebook page of Yasser Abu Shabab)

These Israeli-backed gangs could wreck the Gaza ceasefire

Middle East

Frightening images have emerged from Gaza in the week since a fragile ceasefire took hold between Israel and Hamas. In one widely circulated video, seven blindfolded men kneel in line with militants arrayed behind them. Gunshots ring out in unison, and the row of men collapse in a heap as dozens of spectators look on.

The gruesome scenes appear to be part of a Hamas effort to reestablish control over Gaza through a crackdown on gangs and criminal groups that it says have proliferated during the past two years of war and chaos. In the minds of Israel and its backers, the killings reveal Hamas’ true colors — and represent a preview of what the group may do if it’s allowed to maintain some degree of power.

keep readingShow less
Poland farmers protest EU
Top photo credit: Several thousand people rally against a proposed EU migration scheme in Warsaw, Poland on 11 October, 2025. In a rally organized by the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party thousands gathered to oppose the EU migration pact and an agriculture deal with Mercosur countries. (Photo by Jaap Arriens / Sipa USA)

Poland’s Janus face on Ukraine is untenable

Europe

Of all the countries in Europe, Poland grapples with deep inconsistencies in its approach to both Russia and to Ukraine. As a result, the pro-Europe coalition government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk is coming under increasing pressure as the duplicity becomes more evident.

In its humanitarian response to Ukraine since the war began in 2022, Poland has undoubtedly been one of the most generous among European countries. Its citizens and NGOs threw open their doors to provide food and shelter to Ukrainian women and children fleeing for safety. By 2023, over 1.6 million Ukrainian refugees had applied for asylum or temporary protection in Poland, with around 1 million still present in Poland today.

keep readingShow less

LATEST

QIOSK

Newsletter

Subscribe now to our weekly round-up and don't miss a beat with your favorite RS contributors and reporters, as well as staff analysis, opinion, and news promoting a positive, non-partisan vision of U.S. foreign policy.