Thursday, July 2 | Volume 40 No.16

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2026

More Than a Game: The 2026 FIFA World Cup Is Bringing Nations, Cities and Cultures Together

Reported by Purposely Awakened

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is not finished yet, but it has already given us history, heartbreak, unexpected heroes and enough dramatic end- ings to remind us why billions of people call soccer the beautiful game.

This year's tournament is unlike any World Cup before it.

For the first time, three countries—Canada, Mexico and the United States are sharing hosting responsibilities. The field has expand- ed from 32 to 48 teams, with 104 matches scheduled across 16 host cities between June 11 and July 19.

That expansion means more countries have been invited onto the world's largest soccer stage. It also means fans are not experiencing one version of North America. They are mov- ing through cities with distinct histories, cul- tures, languages and identities.

From Mexico City's deep fútbol tradition to Atlanta's Black cultural influence, Toronto's diversity and Seattle's passionate supporters, the stadiums may provide the fields—but the cities are providing the soul.

FIFA

The Knockout Stage Has Already Delivered History

The Round of 32 began on June 28 after the conclusion of the expanded group stage. Canada, Brazil, Paraguay, Morocco and Norway were among the first teams to secure places in the Round of 16.

But this tournament has not been kind to rep- utations.

Germany entered the knockout stage as a four- time world champion and one of international soccer's most recognizable powers. Paraguay eliminated the Germans in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw, handing Germany its third consecutive early World Cup exit and its first World Cup penalty-shootout defeat.

That result gave us one of the tournament's clearest lessons:

History can introduce you, but it cannot per- form for you.

A respected name may intimidate an oppo- nent before kickoff. Once the whistle blows, however, yesterday's trophies cannot score to- day's goals.

Every generation must earn its own story.

To continue, visit westsidestorynewspaper.com.

24th Annual Backpack Giveaway and Resource Fair Set for Saturday, July 11 at Bordwell Park

Free School Supplies and Local Resources Available to Transitional Kindergarten Through 12th Grade Families at Bordwell Park

RIVERSIDE, CA The City of Riverside Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department, in collaboration with The Adri- an Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation, the Black Arts Museum, and Feed Them Kids, hosts its 24th Annual Backpack Giveaway and Resource Fair on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

"We're taking action because some families can't afford backpacks and supplies. These kids often go through two backpacks in a year. Our goal is to help them get started. We be- gan this effort because many were without backpacks, and as you can see from the num- ber of backpacks distributed across the Inland Empire, the need remains,” said Dell Roberts, president and founder of the Adrian Dell and Carmen Roberts Foundation.

The event runs from 8:00 AM to Noon at the Stratton Community Center, located inside Bordwell Park at 2008 Martin Luther King Blvd, Riverside, CA. This long-standing com- munity event is designed to support local fam- ilies for the upcoming school year by provid- ing vital educational materials and connecting them with regional support networks.

See "24th Annual Backpack..." page 8