America's 250th: Celebrating Red, White and Every Color and Ethnicity You can Imagine
By Wendy Liu
-
With President Trump’s bungled war in Iran, bungled renovation of the Reflecting Pool, not to mention bungled tariff war with the whole wide world, one almost feels a little unsure about celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the country.
An unlikely but just-in-time wonderful event, however, has suddenly brightened the picture of the semi-quincentennial birthday party, and reminded us of one of America’s greatest qualities: its diverse population, especially with its current Exhibit A: the U.S. Men’s National Team advancing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
As Newsweek pointed out, six players on the team were born outside the country, and more than half the 26 men on the roster have dual citizenship. Their family immigration backgrounds span eight countries, from Ghana to Liberia, from Croatia to Suriname.
The most touching story belongs to team’s starting forward, Folarin Balogun, who gained the 14th Amendment birthright citizenship in 2001 when his Nigerian parents were temporarily in New York. One wonders if President Trump really wants to take the citizenship away from someone who represents the best in U.S. soccer.
https://www.postalley.org/2026/07/04/americas-250th-celebrating-red-white-and-every-color-and-ethnicity-you-can-imagine/