World Cup 2026 and Lessons for Vietnam's Sporting Ambitions: When Mega Events Don't Automatically Save Tourism Economies

Standing in the stadium on a July evening, as the sun dipped behind the stands and Canadian flags still fluttered in the wind, I witnessed the end of a brilliant World Cup on American soil. But just one day after the final, news broke of a $20 billion tariff announcement on Canadian goods. The feeling was like a missed penalty in the 88th minute: not about technique, but about the fragility of relationships once thought solid. Vietnam dreams of a World Cup. We dream of sleepless nights and streets flooded with red flags. But the North American story reveals an uncomfortable truth: hosting or participating in a mega sporting event does not automatically deliver community cohesion or sustainable economic benefits without a foundation of trust built beforehand. When Canadian travelers turned away from the US, destinations like Florida, Arizona and California suffered. The lesson for Vietnamese sport is about diversification and sustainable foundations. Football only truly harnesses its power when built on lasting trust. A single victory cannot replace economic stability with neighboring nations. As I watched thousands of Japanese fans cleaning up stadium trash at World Cup 2026, I understood that football culture cannot be fabricated – it must be cultivated daily, across generations. The greatest victories of Vietnamese football came not from single events but from a long process of laying foundations: youth development, player welfare, tactical growth, and building a sustainable football culture. The future question is not whether Vietnam can reach the World Cup, but what foundations we will build to deserve it. I will choose the path of those who stay and build – because the title of those who remain is always the most precious.