The Atlantic

The Greatest Day in Arab Soccer?

Argentina’s World Cup upset underscores the ambivalence of watching this year’s tournament.
Source: Visionhaus / Getty Images

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I was in a gym in Beirut the summer of 2010, a few weeks before the World Cup was to start. As was usual for Lebanese gyms in those days, everyone sat on benches and workout machines chatting and catching up. All looked good in their coordinated sporting outfits, and they all knew one another. Though I am Lebanese, I was clearly an outsider. No one

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