Good Soccer/Bad Soccer Vol. 7: Soccer Dudes Rock

It's time again for Good Soccer/Bad Soccer, the weekly news roundup from Soccer Eagle. This week, GS/BS is fully embracing the World Cup insanity with a collection of items that lean into the good, bad, and super weird that comes with holding the biggest sporting event in the world in a country that cares more about the big event part than the soccer part.

Before we get started, please take a second to share the newsletter with another soccer fan (or potential soccer fan; we're not above indoctrination). The best way for people to learn about Soccer Eagle is through the internet version of word of mouth. Thanks for your support.

GOOD SOCCER GO.

The Continuing Adventures of Zohran Mamdani, Soccer Dude

America's Soccer Mayor, New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, is on an incredible soccer heater with the World Cup on the horizon. Even before his election, the lifelong Arsenal supporter was advocating for soccer fans priced out of attending the World Cup by FIFA's predatory ticket sales scheme.

Since taking office, Mamdani has gotten completely stuck in. Over the last few weeks, America's Soccer Mayor announced a deal with FIFA for 1,000 $50 tickets for New York City residents (registration for the lottery filled up in 3 minutes), worked out a way for his city to host watch parties across all five boroughs, and partnered with hundreds of restaurants to deliver $26 World Cup specials.

While Mamdani's politics can't be everyone's cup of tea (that's just science), his soccer bonafides make him the highest profile politician we can think of to full embrace the beautiful game. That counts for a lot around these part.

For more on Mamdani, read this excellent profile on the mayor of New York from Musa Okwonga at GQ UK.

GOOD SOCCER

The Spice Must Flow

The World Cup arriving in America means a lot of things. Watch parties. Marketing activations. More marketing activations. Still more marketing activations (if you win USMNT tickets as a human crane, please reach out).

It also means an explosion of what we'll call "Soccer 101" stories from outlets that typically only give a passing glance to the sport of soccer. NPR is exactly the type of news gatherer that loves a good "here's something you probably didn't know about soccer" story timed with a spike in interest about the game. Sometimes those stories are so painfully remedial that we let them breeze by.

But this little item on the origins of the word "nutmeg" to describe the soccer move is worth a look even for us soccer obsessives. Sure, it doesn't actually deliver an answer as to why passing the ball between an opponents legs is called a "nutmeg" but the mix of mercantile history and soccer history taught us a thing or two.

Shout out to English and American soccer legend Rodney Marsh, who gets a mention in the piece. Rodney is still getting it done on SiriusXM's soccer radio channel, so give the lad a listen.

GOOD SOCCER

A Collection Of Several Other Items of Interests

AMC will stream select World Cup games broadcast by Telemundo in its theaters across the country, with a focus on teams most attractive to a Spanish-speaking audience.

GOOD SOCCER (pending ticket pricing information)

The USPS is dropping a World Cup stamp to commemorate the tournament's return to the United States.

GOOD SOCCER (it's a little boring, though)

The 70-foot statue of Lionel Messi erected in the city of Kolkata, India will be taken down because it's in danger of falling over. Messi famously never dives. Even as a statue.

BAD SOCCER

iPaper's Daniel Storey is going to take America full in the face with a 49-day, 24-state road trip during the World Cup that will take him to exotic locales like Bakersfield, CA and Ottawa, KS. Godspeed, Daniel.

GOOD SOCCER (careful with those food choices, Daniel)

Friend of the newsletter Leander Schaerlaeckens asks a very good question: Is it possible for this World Cup to leave a legacy with domestic soccer that comes close to the one left by '94?

GOOD SOCCER (buy Leander's book)

The American version of League One did its best impression of old timey lower division English football with a match between the Chattanooga Red Wolves and the Richmond Kickers on Wednesday night. What does "unplayable" mean, really?

liquid football

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— John Morrissey (@usltactics.com) May 27, 2026 at 7:32 PM

THE VERY DEFINITION OF BAD SOCCER

A World Cup-branded Queens ferry started smoking and needed the aid of the Manhattan World Cup ferry, a turn of events that feels entirely too on-the-nose for the vibes of this World Cup.

I’m on the Manhattan World Cup branded ferry which just came to the aid of the Queens World Cup ferry which is dealing with a smoke situation in its cabin

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— Max Rivlin-Nadler (@maxrn.bsky.social) May 27, 2026 at 6:29 PM

BAD SOCCER

The attorneys general of New York and New Jersey subpoenaed FIFA over its ticketing practices, alleging that the organization misled consumers about the location of seats and caused a spike in prices through its public messaging.

GOOD SOCCER (attorneys general)

BAD SOCCER (FIFA, obviously)

Self-Promotion Engage

The Best Soccer Show is having its own good run leading up to the World Cup, mostly due to the excellent guests:

We did an episode with Leander Schaerlakens on his USMNT book and wider American soccer topics.

Shawn Francis joined to talk about the growth of the game over a couple of decades and what the World Cup means for American soccer.

We did a roster review show with Alex Shephard of the forthcoming World Cup magazine Golden Goal that dived into Pochettino's choices and how it might (or might not) come together during the tournament.

All are worth a listen and a share. The show is always in need of ratings and reviews, so drop one if you get a chance.

Morning Kickaround is getting ready to hit the World Cup hard as well. We're doing live shows three days a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) and you can always go back and watch the show on the YouTube channel or find the show as a podcast wherever you get podcasts.

See you next time.