What We Hope Our Kids Remember From the World Cup 2026
Our family is still sad that the World Cup is over.
For the first half of Summer 2026, soccer was what we built our schedule around. We mapped out the World Cup games we were excited to watch, got together with friends for watch parties, learned about the USMT players, and made memories we’ll always remember.
Our kids knew when games were on. They had players they wanted to see. They asked questions. They cheered. They learned the names of countries they didn't know much about before.
And somewhere along the way, watching the World Cup became more than just watching soccer.
It became a family experience.
As parents, and as the founders of Inclyousion Sports, there was something really special about watching our children experience a sporting event on such a huge scale. Because underneath the incredible athleticism, packed stadiums, and excitement, we kept seeing so many of the same lessons we're trying to teach children every day.
Now that the festivities have ended (are we the only ones still talking about how much we miss everything?!), these are the things we hope our kids remember.
Sports Have an Incredible Ability to Bring People Together
This might be our favorite thing about sports.
For a few weeks, people all over the world stopped what they were doing to watch the same game. Different countries, languages, cultures, and backgrounds. All connected by soccer.
Our kids got to see fans wearing their country's colors, singing together, celebrating together, and experiencing something much bigger than themselves. That's something we hope they experience through sports in their own lives too. You don't have to be the best player on the field to belong to a team. You don't even have to play the sport to be part of the experience.
Sometimes the magic of sports is simply being part of something together.
Even the Best Athletes in the World Make Mistakes
This is such an important lesson for kids.
The players competing in the World Cup are among the best soccer players on the planet, and they still make mistakes. They lose the ball. They make a bad pass. They miss shots. They fall down. They lose games.
And then they keep playing.
Young children can be incredibly hard on themselves when they're learning something new. Sometimes one missed goal or one skill they can't quite figure out is enough to make them want to stop trying altogether.
Watching professional athletes make mistakes gives us a wonderful opportunity to remind our kids:
Being good at something doesn't mean doing it perfectly.
It means continuing to try.
There Isn't Just One Way to Be a Great Athlete
One of the things we love about soccer, and sports in general, is seeing how different every athlete is.
Some players are incredibly fast. Others have amazing footwork. Some seem to see the entire field before anyone else does. Some are great leaders. Some create opportunities for their teammates. Others seem to show up at exactly the right moment.
They don't all look the same or play the same. And they don't contribute to their teams in the same way. That's a message we want our children to hear early and often.
Your strengths don't have to look like someone else's strengths to matter.
Losing Is Part of Playing
There were some heartbreaking moments during the World Cup. Our son, a huge Messi fan, was so sad with Argentina’s loss!
For every team celebrating a win, there was another team walking off the field disappointed. That's sports for ya. And while our instinct as parents can sometimes be to protect our children from disappointment, sports give kids an opportunity to experience it in a safe and healthy way.
Sometimes you try really hard and still don't win. You can be disappointed, feel sad, and wish the outcome had been different.
But then you move forward.
That's a life skill that extends far beyond a soccer field.
Sports Are Supposed to Be Fun
With all the pressure that can surround youth sports today, watching the World Cup reminded us why people fall in love with sports in the first place.
They're exciting! unpredictable! and give us something to cheer about! They connect us. And they're fun.
The athletes our children watched on television didn't begin their soccer careers in packed stadiums. Once upon a time, every single one of them was a little kid learning how to kick a ball.
Before the trophies, contracts, national teams, and millions of fans, there had to be a beginning, just like where our children are today.
You Never Know Where Trying Something New Might Lead
We don't expect the children in our programs to become professional athletes. When a 2-, 4-, or 6-year-old walks onto the field with us, our goal isn't to identify the next World Cup star. It's to help that child discover what they're capable of.
Maybe they fall in love with soccer. Maybe soccer gives them the confidence to try basketball. Maybe they discover that they're really fast and eventually love track & field. Maybe they simply spend a season moving their body, making friends, learning how to be part of a group, and having fun.
We can't know where that first experience will lead. We just want every child to have the opportunity to find out.
Until the Next World Cup...
Our house is going to feel a little quieter without a soccer game to turn on. We'll miss the excitement. We'll miss having teams to cheer for. We'll miss watching our kids become invested in a sport we already love so much.
But maybe that's one of the best things about an event like the World Cup. The games eventually end, but what they inspire doesn't have to.
Our kids watched people from all over the world work hard, make mistakes, support their teammates, experience disappointment, celebrate incredible moments, and keep going.
And hopefully, they saw something else too:
Sports are for everyone.
Whether you're playing in front of millions of people or kicking a ball around your backyard, there is joy in moving your body, learning something new, and being part of the game. That's a lesson we'll happily carry with us long after the final whistle.
Keep the Soccer Fun Going
If the World Cup sparked a new love of soccer in your house too, you don't have to let the excitement end just because the tournament is over.
Our first children's book, My First Soccer Practice, was created to help young children learn what to expect when they step onto the soccer field for the first time.
Through Henry's first soccer practice, children can explore soccer skills, equipment, emotions, and what happens at practice, all through a fun, inclusive story created especially for young athletes.
Whether your child is getting ready for their very first practice or simply can't get enough soccer right now, we hope this book helps keep some of that World Cup excitement going at home.
