A larger World Cup had some worrying the competition would suffer. It hasn’t

Cape Verde’s midfielder Kevin Pina celebrated after scoring in a thrilling 2-2 draw against Uruguay during their World Cup match in Miami Gardens. This result follows Cape Verde’s impressive 0-0 draw against Spain, giving the small African nation a strong chance to advance to the knockout stage in their first World Cup appearance. Similarly, Curaçao, the smallest country ever to compete, earned its first World Cup point with a 0-0 draw against Ecuador, thanks to goalkeeper Eloy Room’s 15 saves. Scotland, returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, won against Haiti but narrowly lost to Morocco. Meanwhile, the U.S. team has already secured a spot in the knockout round after victories over Australia and Paraguay. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi’s hat trick, won their opener against Algeria and are expected to advance, while questions remain about Portugal’s performance. QUESTION: How might the success of smaller nations like Cape Verde and Curaçao in the World Cup inspire young athletes in your community?