What FIFA Taught Us About Building a More Perfect Union in Miami

As co-leaders of the +More Perfect Union (MPU) Miami chapter, Gisela and I have devoted a significant amount of time to creating a less divided world, one founded on dialogue, shared experiences, and community-driven service. Our work is inspired by growing research that shows how connection across lines of difference helps rebuild trust and civic belonging. In fact, a recent study in The Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement highlights how place-based engagement and intentional dialogue foster a stronger democratic culture, especially in times of division (read it here).

That’s why, earlier this year, we decided to volunteer for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in Miami. We did this not just as fans of the game but as citizens committed to service, civic engagement, and, in this case, global connection. Now that the tournament is coming to a close, we’re reflecting on what this experience has given us and how we will carry it forward in our work here at home. Volunteering at FIFA reminded us what’s possible when people come together for something bigger than themselves. We saw strangers from across the world cheering side by side. We witnessed teamwork across language barriers, cultural differences, and national pride. And in a time when so many forces push us apart, the Club World Cup gave us a glimpse of what unity can look like in practice, not just as a slogan or a discussion, but as a lived experience.

That spirit is precisely what we’re cultivating with MPU Miami. Just as FIFA brought together people across borders, we’re working every day to bring together neighbors across political, racial, and generational divides. Whether it’s through civic dinners, service projects, storytelling events, or partnerships with local schools and nonprofits, we’re helping build a Miami where everyone feels they belong and where working together isn’t the exception, but the norm.FIFA may be ending, but the relationships, energy, and lessons it sparked will continue. In our chapter, we’re more motivated than ever to carry that momentum forward, welcoming new voices, creating shared spaces, and reminding people that change begins where you are. Because in a city as vibrant and diverse as Miami, every day is an opportunity to show up. To connect. To listen. To serve. And whether it’s through the beautiful game or the hard, hopeful work of democracy, we’re here for it.