Rooting for everybody Black at the World Cup is more complicated (and more beautiful) than you think

The 2026 World Cup is reminding Americans of something their schools never did: Black people are everywhere, from Ghana to Switzerland.

For the last few weeks, the World Cup has brought a new sense of community and camaraderie to the streets of the United States. As fans from around the world travel to see their country compete in this global competition, the images and videos of fans from two opposing countries coming together to celebrate have filled timelines. Beyond the feel-good moments, the World Cup’s presence has also been an eye-opening experience for some communities that may never have had the opportunity to see what’s happening around the world. 

@sportbible The World Cup brings everyone together 🥹 🎥 TT/jhonrendon_8 #FIFAWorldCup ♬ original sound – SPORTbible

For those who follow Issa Rae’s mantra of “rooting for everybody Black,” putting that into practice in the World Cup has been challenging. While it’s easy to apply for the majority of Black countries like Haiti, Curacao, Senegal, Cape Verde, Ghana, the Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire), DR of Congo, and South Africa competing in the World Cup, the reality is that countries like Ecuador, France, England, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Canada have a strong roster of Black players. 

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That observation, whether or not it surprises you, is a powerful reminder of just how expansive Blackness really is. When we talk about colonialism, we tend to focus on the systems of oppression it built, particularly in the United States. And those realities are undeniable. But tucked inside that painful history is something else: colonialism and the slave trade scattered Black people across the entire globe, and in each of those places, we built micro-communities, created culture, and put down roots. So just as corners of the internet were shocked to discover Black people in Scotland last year, fans watching the World Cup are now finding Black communities woven into the fabric of Europe, Latin America, and beyond.

“[American schools] barely teach them [Americans] about black people in America”, Roy Woods Jr. previously pointed out, reflecting on Black Americans’ reactions to these discoveries. “People can laugh about dumb Americans not knowing there are black people in Scotland, but this tells us a lot about the differences between education systems and what governments define as history.”

The comedian also noted “how much entertainment influences people’s stereotypical beliefs.”

“Because if you’re told to [picture] a Scottish person, I would never [think of a Black person] but if you said a Black Brit. That’s not a surprise. We’ve seen enough of them. And then, if you said Scottish, I’m sorry that’s white. So I think that this whole Black Scottish TikTok [trend] is just indicative of just the culture.” 

So when we say Black people are not a monolith, we mean it in the fullest sense; our cultural norms, ethnic backgrounds, languages, and national identities are as varied as the flags flying in this tournament. And yet, through all of that, our Blackness serves as a connective thread. The World Cup is a simple reminder that our Black cousins live everywhere. 

As one social media user noted: “The World Cup is all the cousins having really fun sleepover parties and getting along beautifully while our parents are beefing.”