The absence of Donald Trump from the World Cup final has raised eyebrows, but perhaps it should not. For those who have tracked the shifting tides of global power, it is no surprise that British diplomacy has quietly taken the lead. As cameras panned across the VIP boxes, there was a distinct lack of the signature blonde coif.
Instead, Prince William and Boris Johnson were seen mingling, a subtle reminder of who really commands the room. The narrative that America under Trump is retreating from global events is not new, but it gains fresh currency when set against the backdrop of football's greatest stage. Street interviews in London and Manchester reveal a populace torn between relief and concern.
'It's nice not to have the circus,' said one fan, 'but you worry about what it says.' What it says, perhaps, is that the sun is setting on the American era of cultural dominance, and Britain is happy to step into the light. The human cost?
A generation of young fans who grow up without seeing US presidents as part of the sporting fabric. But for now, the Union Jack flies high, and the British bulldog takes its moment in the sun.
