Like millions of Americans — and a few billion others around the world — I’ve been glued to the World Cup. 

One thing that has really stood out is not only the excitement on the field, but also what’s happening in the stands. Across our country, the World Cup is providing an optimistic lens for how the world can see us — from a German tourist going viral for his love of Waffle House and southern hospitality, to Algerian fans cheering with college students at a bar in Lawrence, Kansas, to Scotland’s “Tartan Army” belting out “American Pie” with strangers in Boston.