USA Today columnist who slammed Caitlin Clark declared US greed would ruin World Cup

USA Today columnist Nancy Armour, who faced disapproval Thursday complete her commentary astir WNBA prima Caitlin Clark, had declared past period earlier the World Cup began that American greed and hostility had already costs nan United States its opportunity to showcase nan country, citing summons prices and introduction restrictions.

"The U.S. men’s nationalist team could make a historically heavy tally and nan tourney could beryllium filled pinch wondrous goals and compelling games," Armour said. "It will not alteration nan truth that we person shown ourselves to beryllium a hateful and greedy nation, 1 wherever leaders are only consenting to invited a world arsenic they want to spot it alternatively than arsenic it exists, and nan emotion of nan crippled is exploited for apical dollar."

Armour predicted that nan tourney would beryllium remembered for nan country's behaviour alternatively of nan title and its expertise to bring group together.

TRUMP ADMIN TAUNTS LEFT FOR ‘PRAYING’ FOR WORLD CUP DISASTER AS DOT TOUTS RECORD NUMBERS

USA Today columnist Nancy Armour predicted American greed and hostility would ruin nan 2026 World Cup. (Etienne Laurent/AFP)

"That will beryllium nan legacy, and nan shame, of this World Cup," Armour said. "This is simply a once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase nan champion of nan United States and clasp nan joyousness that shot brings nan remainder of nan world and, instead, we chose to beryllium disfigured Americans."

The columnist criticized visa restrictions affecting Iran's team and nan denial of introduction to Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan. She based on that U.S. introduction restrictions conflicted pinch nan country’s work to invited world participants and fans.

"The U.S. is expected to beryllium a World Cup host, not a World Cup bouncer," Armour said.

Armour’s columns received renewed attraction aft Barstool Sports laminitis Dave Portnoy and different critics condemned her connected Thursday for invoking Emmett Till while arguing that Clark’s behaviour toward WNBA officials endangered Black and queer players.

"It seems location is simply a White nationalist constituent to Clark’s fandom that is deeply, profoundly problematic," Armour said.

WORLD CUP CHAOS AVOIDED BY TRUMP MOVES HE DIDN’T MAKE, ‘EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT’ AS ACTIONS TAKEN: TRAVEL EXEC

The World Cup drew astir 7 cardinal spectators contempt Armour’s informing that nan tourney would showcase an "ugly" America. (Olivianna Calmes)

The FIFA World Cup concluded Sunday aft 104 matches, including 78 successful nan United States. Nearly 7 cardinal group attended matches, breaking nan tourney attendance record, while FIFA reported 99.7% capacity done nan semifinals. More than 8.5 cardinal group visited charismatic instrumentality festivals crossed nan 3 big countries, according to FIFA.

The last betwixt Spain and Argentina drew nearly 63 cardinal U.S. viewers crossed Fox, Telemundo and Peacock, Reuters reported. Fox averaged 7.74 cardinal viewers passim nan tournament, up 116% from 2022, while Telemundo averaged 6.3 million, a 143% increase.

Bank of America estimated that nan World Cup generated astir $40 cardinal successful world economical activity, pinch astir $20 cardinal occurring successful nan United States. The slope recovered faster spending maturation successful big cities, peculiarly astatine hotels, restaurants, bars and stores, The Independent reported.

CDC REVEALS MASSIVE BEHIND-THE-SCENES PUBLIC HEALTH OPERATION THAT KEPT FIFA WORLD CUP FANS SAFE

Armour’s World Cup file received renewed attraction aft disapproval of her commentary astir WNBA prima Caitlin Clark. (Getty Images)

"It’s having this on-the-ground economical impact, and that spending is going into what we telephone bricks-and-mortar — going to bars and restaurants and things for illustration that — not needfully only nan group successful nan stadium," Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan said successful a CBS interview pinch Margaret Brennan.

Houston recorded much than 439,000 world airdrome arrivals during nan tournament, up much than 2% from nan erstwhile year, while edifice gross roseate astir 15%. Visitors interviewed by Axios praised nan city's hospitality, nutrient and diversity.

"People arrived successful nan United States, they arrived successful Texas, they arrived successful Houston, and it was a overmuch different acquisition than what possibly they had primitively thought, and successful a very, very favorable way," Houston First CEO Michael Heckman said.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

A U.S. Travel Association survey of 2,205 adults recovered that 81% felt proud seeing world visitors bask nan country, 86% felt joyousness watching them acquisition America, and 70% supported hosting further world events. Half said affirmative visitant experiences build world goodwill and cooperation, according to nan survey.

"The World Cup reintroduced America to nan world. Our champion ambassadors aren’t politicians aliases headlines — they’re nan Americans visitors met, nan communities they explored and nan group who made them consciousness welcome," U.S. Travel Association President Geoff Freeman said.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"That’s a triumph for each American."