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Oh, hi!
Even with Team USA out of the tournament, the World Cup is still doing what it does best.
Bringing people together.
Across the U.S., fans are still filling restaurants, gathering with friends, proudly wearing jerseys, and cheering for teams that reflect their heritage, their hometown loyalties, or simply the underdog they've adopted along the way.
That's bigger than soccer. It's belonging.
And it's exactly what local governments should be paying attention to.
Because people don't show up simply because they're invited. They show up because they feel like they're part of something bigger than themselves.
People don't remember every score. They remember how it felt to be part of something bigger than themselves.
The best cities create that same feeling. Not every four years.
Every single day.
Three Things You Should Know
The World Cup turns spectators into participants. Fans don't just watch. They wear jerseys, tell stories, celebrate traditions, create content, and invite others in. Great communities work the same way. Residents shouldn't just consume information, they should help shape it.
The strongest teams know their fans. Every chant, tradition, and celebration reflects years of listening to what people care about. Cities should be listening too. Your 311 data, social conversations, newsletters, community events, and neighborhood groups are all telling you what matters most, if you're paying attention.
Emotion travels farther than information. Millions won't remember every statistic from this tournament. They'll remember the underdog story, the dramatic comeback, or the celebration that united an entire nation. Government communication works the same way. Facts matter. Stories make people care.
This part really matters.
This part really matters: We spend a lot of time asking how to get more people to meetings, surveys, or public hearings. Maybe the better question is: How do we make people feel like they're already on the team?
That's when engagement stops feeling like outreach and starts becoming community.
Try This
Ask your team this question during your next meeting: "If our city felt as welcoming as the World Cup feels to its fans, what would we do differently?"
You might be surprised by the answers.
Maybe it's faster responses. Maybe it's celebrating residents more often. Maybe it's simply making people feel seen.
Small shifts create unforgettable experiences. Because whether you're cheering for your country or showing up for your community people want to belong.
And when they do? They bring everyone else with them.
Real Connection > Perfect Messaging.
This is basically the whole reason I started Oh, hi! Stories. Every episode is a conversation with someone who thinks about how we connect with and show up for the people around us: former mayors, public servants, storytellers, a former Sprint CEO, my old MTV mentor. People who, in their own way, make their corner of the world work a little better.
If this issue resonated, the podcast is the longer version of it.
Hit reply and tell me:
What's one thing your city could do tomorrow that would make people feel more like they're part of the team?
Thanks for reading,
Dana
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About Dana
Former Emmy-winning television producer and Chief Digital Officer. Built Gilbert, AZ's national award-wining Office of Digital Government. Now helping city communicators tell stories that build trust.
Oh, hi! Stories Podcast: Spotify | Apple Podcasts
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