Celebrate identity: How Pride Month and the World Cup have more in common than you think

One thing I’ve always loved about those once‑every‑four‑years moments — the Olympics, the upcoming World Cup — is how they pull us into our heritage. For a few weeks, the whole world pauses to celebrate where we come from. Countries go head‑to‑head for a win, and honestly, that’s the only kind of conflict we should ever have between nations.

With the World Cup coming practically into my backyard, I keep thinking about the millions — maybe billions — of people who will tune in to support their country or the country of their roots. And every time I think about that, one word comes to mind: identity.

Identity is powerful. Identity is unifying.

Even here in Cumberland, RI, and the surrounding towns, you can see it every day — Irish pride, Portuguese pride, Scottish, Dominican, Puerto Rican, and so many more. You don’t need a global tournament to see it. It’s in the neighborhoods, the festivals, the food, the flags on porches. We gravitate toward the people and traditions that feel familiar. That’s pride in community.

And the World Cup? It amplifies that. It brings out pride in country — a shared identity that people live and breathe for their teams. Strip it all down, and at the core, it’s simple:

Pride in identity.

Every year, we get moments that remind us who we are. Moments that pull us back to our roots, our communities, and the parts of ourselves we sometimes forget to honor. But this summer gives us two of those moments at the same time: the World Cup and Pride Month.

On the surface, they couldn’t be more different — one is a global sporting event, the other a celebration of LGBTQ+ identity and liberation. But look closer and you’ll see the same heartbeat running through both.

Identity fuels Pride. 

Pride in where you come from.

Pride in who you are.

Pride in how you show up in the world.

And when people feel safe to claim their identity, they shine.

Pride in Where You Come From

There’s something about the World Cup that wakes up a part of us we don’t always tap into. Flags come out of closets. Languages we haven’t spoken in months suddenly fill living rooms. Kids start asking questions about “their” countries, even if they’ve never been there.

For immigrants, first‑generation families (Like my own), and multicultural households, the World Cup is more than a tournament — it’s a reminder that identity is carried, inherited, and lived. It’s a moment when people feel seen on a global stage, even if their team doesn’t make it past the group stage.

Pride in heritage isn’t about dominance. It’s about belonging. It’s about saying, “This is where my story begins.”

And yet, in the world we live in, we forget that a society that embraces difference is a society that thrives. We get so caught up in judging what’s unfamiliar that we miss the beauty of it. Live and let live — better yet, embrace what’s different and let it teach you something new. That’s how communities grow. That’s how people grow.

Pride in Who You Are

Pride Month carries a different kind of power — one rooted in visibility, courage, and community. For LGBTQ+ people, Pride is a declaration:

I exist.

I matter.

I deserve to be seen.

It’s a celebration, yes. But it’s also a reminder of the work it took to get here — and the work still ahead. Pride isn’t about superiority; it’s about safety, dignity, and truth. It’s about claiming an identity the world hasn’t always welcomed.

And just like cultural pride, LGBTQ+ pride is deeply personal. It’s shaped by history, community, and the desire to live authentically.

Pride in identity isn’t about fitting in. It’s about standing tall. It’s about saying, “This is who I am.”

Two Stages, One Message

The World Cup and Pride Month may look different, but they share a core truth:

Both invite people to show up boldly and unapologetically.

One uses jerseys and flags. The other uses rainbows and marches. But the emotional architecture is the same.

Both say:

• I belong to something bigger than myself

• My identity matters

• My community matters

• I don’t have to shrink to be accepted

In a world that pressures people to choose one identity, one box, one version of themselves, these moments remind us that identity is layered. It’s a mosaic, not a single tile.

Identity Is Complex — And That’s the Point

Some people cheer for more than one country because they are more than one country. Some people celebrate Pride Month and wave their family’s flag with equal conviction. Some people carry identities that don’t fit neatly into categories — cultural, personal, or queer.

And that’s the beauty of it.

Identity isn’t a limitation. It’s a source of power.

When we embrace the full spectrum of who we are — our heritage, our communities, our lived experiences, our truths — we move through the world with more confidence, more clarity, and more pride.

A Leadership Lesson Hidden in Plain Sight

Whether in families, communities, or workplaces, people thrive when they don’t have to hide parts of themselves. When identity is honored, people show up with:

• More creativity

• More connection

• More courage

• More pride

The World Cup and Pride Month teach us the same lesson:

Visibility fuels belonging. Belonging fuels pride. And pride fuels performance.

When people feel safe to bring their whole identity — cultural, personal, or LGBTQ+ — they don’t just participate. They flourish.

Closing Reflection

As the world comes together on two very different stages this summer, I’m reminded of something simple but powerful:

Whether it’s a flag, a jersey, or a rainbow, pride begins with identity — and identity is always worth celebrating.