World Cup Day 17: The Mind Boggles

One of the things that has hit me hardest about this World Cup is just how much of it there is. I know that sounds like an obvious thing to say 66 games into the tournament (there are six group stage games left to be played as of this writing)

World Cup Day 16: Congratulations on Your Loss

Last night in Los Angeles, the USMNT conceded in the final moments of it's final group stage game via a hectic Turkish push for a winner that included plenty of bad defending and Christian Pulisic getting nutmegged. What was going to be an encouraging 2-2 draw suddenly

World Cup Day 15: Memo and Me

I don't like Memo Ochoa, but I respect him. I don't like Mexico (the national team) but me alegra que la gente haya tenido ese momento con su héroe, San Memo. I'm not even a little bit jealous.

World Cup Day 13: When Everything Is Possible

We stand on the precipice. Just ahead is the edge, from which we will tumble, tumble, tumble, into the unknowable depths of a well so dark and impenetrable our minds cannot begin to comprehend what lies there. Yet, this uncertainly does not cow us. It thrills us. We are the

World Cup Day 12: Liking Yourself Is Job One

The streak is over. After 10 consecutive days of spilling my thoughts on the oversized World Cup unfolding before us here in North America, I finally missed a day. Life outside of soccer chose to impose itself and I was unable to carve out the time I need to organize

World Cup Day 10: The Best We've Ever Been Part 2

The USMNT's victory over Paraguay in the opening game of the World Cup felt like historic moment in annals of the program. Stomping a South American nation (despite what the negative nellies out there are bleating, any South American qualifier for the World Cup is, by definition, pretty,

World Cup Day 9: Getting Hyped By Any Means Necessary

IT'S GAME DAY Welcome to Day 9 at the World Cup. Here's where I am, just to give you a sense of my emotional state on match day for the United States: Moments ago I scrapped 600 words on Mexico's win in Guadalajara and

World Cup Day 8: The Buzz

I live in a soccer bubble. Even if I wanted to pretend otherwise, my work and my life create circumstances that might make living any other way exceedingly difficult. To be clear, living this way a choice and I'm happy to make it. After eighteen-ish years of

World Cup Day 7: Gods Walk Among Us

The brightest stars command—and take command of—the biggest stages. When it comes game that inflames the passions of billions around the world, there is no bigger stage than the World Cup. Superstars can thrive in the top leagues of Europe and capture the most coveted prices in club

World Cup Day 6: Cabo Verde & The Day Of Draws

World Cup Day 5 delivered a quartet of draws, each of which was fascinating in isolation. Collectively, the four mean that groups G and H are a wide open affairs going into Matchday 2; with one of the presumptive challengers for the World Cup trophy in Group H and Group

World Cup Day 5: The Blowouts Are Here

I'm not sure I believe there's a good answer for "How many teams is the right number of teams for the World Cup finals" if the question is about inclusion and competition and not about the logistical problem of holding more than 100 games.

World Cup Day 4: Türkiye Roo The Day

Saturday. The first day of the 2026 World Cup that delivered three games in a single day—unless you live west of the Mississippi—in which case it was four. Australia v. Turkiye kicking off at midnight eastern, an hour after the end of the Haiti v. Scotland game in