Sports

There’s no sugarcoating it: the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) has been bad at the FIFA World Cup. Domestically speaking, however, the growth in the game has never been greater. A 2022 report by Telemundo Deportes indicated that 52% of adults considered themselves as soccer fans, as opposed to 2012. Similarly, participation has grown over 30% from 2002 to 2019 as a “first choice” sport for young people in the US — a bigger jump than any of the other big four sports of hockey, baseball, basketball and American football. The latter of which, knowingly, faces an existential crisis due to brain-related injuries, amongst other prevalent topics. Everyone seems to want a slice of the MLS pie these days. Matthew McConaughey at Austin FC, David Beckham’s very own club, Inter Miami CF, to another ne...

Every iconic World Cup moment ever created – with the exception of Diego Maradona’s hand, Luis Suarez’s infamous goal-line clearance against Ghana or Iran’s Milan Mohammadi acrobatic attempt of a throw-in – has been launched into footballing legend by what is worn on player’s feet every four years: the humble football boot. Over the years, football boots have gone from default rigorous, all-black leather constructs to cutting-edge technologies, with synthetic knits, ergonomic studs and wild designs now very much in vogue for the current generation of players who will kick off the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The days of the game’s purist’s eyebrows being raised at brightly-colored boots are long gone. Now, you’ll see Lionel Messi take to the field in a super-light, special-edition adidas Speed...

Beer sales are set to be banned at stadiums during the Qatar World Cup after the Qatar officials pressured FIFA to abandon the move, just 48 hours before the tournament kicks off. The original plans for the competition called for supporters to be given exemptions to purchase alcohol inside official fan zones between certain times and on stadium concourses, however, it now looks as if concourse sales will be banned. Tourists will still be able to buy alcohol from licensed hotels and restaurants, which is normally allowed under Qatari law.  An official announcement is expected imminently, but the move has put FIFA on a collision course with Budweiser, who is one of the tournament’s biggest sponsors and has a multi-million dollar promotion deal with the organizing body. Th...