US, July 20 -- For one unforgettable month, the United States became the center of the football world. Millions of visitors arrived not to debate politics, tariffs, elections, or international conflicts, but to celebrate the universal language of the beautiful game.

For a brief moment, stadiums became places where passports mattered less than team colors, and accents became part of the soundtrack rather than a point of division. That may ultimately become the greatest legacy of FIFA's American adventure.

Today's 104th and final match at MetLife Stadium was about far more than crowning a champion.

Before a ball was kicked, Jennifer Hudson's stirring rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner filled the stadium with remarkable emotion. It was...