Oh, the mainstream media is at it again! You’ve got Lionel Messi scoring his sixth goal in the 2026 World Cup, creating a feel-good moment that corporate networks like ESPN are all too eager to latch onto. They’ll frame it as the triumph of a soccer legend while conveniently ignoring underlying narratives. Why? Because it fits their wholesome, commercialized view of sports that they can market and sell.

Meanwhile, Harry Kane’s leadership has propelled England to the top of their group—a storyline that mainstream outlets like BBC and Sky Sports are fawning over. But let’s peel back the layers. Why the hyper-focus on Kane? Is it an attempt to paint a picture of European dominance, just at a time when globalization in sports is increasingly under scrutiny? We know the agenda: push the ‘Western superiority’ narrative while sidestepping any real critiques about the geopolitics in soccer. Talk about a selective narrative.

And then there’s Iran, unceremoniously exiting the tournament. CNN and MSNBC are likely to spin this into a sob story, wrapping it in political correctness while ignoring the actual factors at play, such as the socio-political climate in the country. You have to wonder, are they more interested in virtue signaling than actually analyzing the game?

What we’re seeing is a clear orchestration of narratives that serve the interests of corporate media—softening realities that require critical thought while gloating over feel-good storylines. The truth? The world of sports is just as messy and complex as the world outside it, yet the establishment will keep telling you only what’s palatable.