Orange gush: KC mayor parties with the Dutch

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas danced with Netherlands fans to their famous song “Links Rechts” ahead of the Orange Walk in Kansas City’s Power & Light District on Thursday. The Dutch supporters — along with the Scots and the Norwegians — have been some of the most exuberant in backing their team around the U.S….

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Canada’s biggest fan may be its biggest problem

OTTAWA — Mark Carney may be Canada’s loudest booster at the World Cup, but some of his countrymen fear he may be hurting more than helping — because he always does when it comes to sports. In March 2025, the new prime minister joined the Edmonton Oilers for a pre-game skate. That night the Oilers…

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Australia lost. Its ambassador still won.

SEATTLE — In late May, Greg Moriarty formally presented his credentials to President Donald Trump as Australia’s man in Washington. But it wasn’t until mid-June that Moriarty encountered one of the U.S. officials he most needed to meet: Energy Secretary Chris Wright, whose department plays a key role in critical-minerals deals between the two countries. Moriarty’s…

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Democrats grapple uncomfortably with World Cup success

The triumph of the World Cup’s first two weeks — boosting the U.S.’s global reputation with sold-out stadiums and few logistical complications — has forced Democrats who had criticized President Donald Trump’s role in preparations to grudgingly reconsider. “I think that there was a little bit of like liberal wishcasting that this would maybe be…

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Usha Vance to attend match

Second Lady Usha Vance is expected to attend the United States’ final group-stage match this evening in Los Angeles, according to an administration official. Her husband, Vice President J.D. Vance, appeared earlier this afternoon at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in nearby Orange County as part of his book tour. ​Politics

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Potential 2028er World Cup attendee leaderboard

Here are the likely 2028 presidential hopefuls who have attended a World Cup game so far: Shapiro: 2 matches Newsom: 1 match Harris: 1 match Rubio: 1 match And… according to at least one Democratic strategist, that approach may not be half bad. Matt Bennett, of the center-left think tank Third Way, told POLITICO more…

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Who’s who from the Trump administration

While President Donald Trump himself hasn’t attended a game yet during the World Cup, the rest of his administration has turned out in force at all three U.S. games so far. Lee Zeldin, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, is at the game in Inglewood. Zeldin has clashed with California officials over issues ranging from…

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