The World Cup is undressing the myth of Trump’s American homogeneity

The 2026 World Cup has become a rebuke to Trump's homogeneous vision of America, revealing a tournament - and a US team - shaped by migration and diversity

Following the Department of Homeland Security on social media is a bit like wandering through a casino at 4am. Sooner or later, you'll see something that makes you go: How did we get here?

There was one of those moments earlier this month. Days after the US opened their World Cup campaign with a 4-1 romp over Paraguay, DHS marked the occasion by posting an image of Chris Richards, Sergino Dest and Folarin Balogun exulting beneath the headline DEFEND THE HOMELAND" and the caption OUR SOIL".