The World Cup is a glorious, global event, a gathering of sport infused with diversity and cultural flair. Depending on where you are and what teams are around you, it can feel like you are in Mexico City or Buenos Aires, Lima or Paris, Seoul or Sydney. And yet, watching this tournament over the past few weeks, it has been impossible to escape the feeling that at this World Cup -yes, even without a team from the United States involved — there is underlying American feel.
Maybe it is the off-the-ball moving screens being used during set pieces or the fact that “clear and obvious error” has become the new “Did he survive the ground?” or perhaps even just the new pregame musical routine that has swapped out the stodgy, orchestral FIFA anthem in favor of stadium classics like AC/DC and The White Stripes.
Actually, it was probably Antoine Griezmann’s version of “The Decision,” when the France star did a fairly poor LeBron James impression and announced his intention to stay at Atletico Madrid, instead of joining Barcelona, via a personal documentary — which even included footage of him shooting hoops — that he released just days before his team’s opening match. Regardless, it has combined to give this World Cup in Russia — in Russia! — an underbelly that is straight from the NBA or NFL.