Hail GFOP!
It’s Wednesday, which means we’re back with another edition of the World Cup Weekly. Club football has returned to full swing, and now, the key for the world’s best footballers is to just remain healthy and finish out the campaign, following injuries to top players like Hugo Ekitike and Cristian Romero. With 57 days to go until the start of the competition, though, there is still plenty to talk about:
The tournament’s lone nation without a manager has found their new coach; a familiar face who’s returning to the WC with his fourth different team. 🇬🇭
Security concerns for this summer’s competition are emerging from a place you might not expect. 👀
While Lionel Messi will be getting a new coach in Miami, curiosity continues to build over his World Cup status. 🇦🇷
ii. A programming reminder for later today: Rog and James Horncastle will go live immediately after today’s Champions League games on “Big Match Breakdown.” Watch that here. 📺
iii. Not a ton of standout goals from yesterday’s UCL action, but (look away, Liverpool fans) Ousmane Dembélé’s dagger to send PSG through to the semifinal was icccccce cold. 🥶
iv. Turns out one of the world’s biggest pop stars also happens to have some deep, deep football knowledge. Or just really loves an obscure kit. 😮💨
Cheers,
Jacob Schneider & Tommy Stewart
P.S. Cape Verde’s World Cup jerseys have arrived and they are terrific. 👌
🗞️ Big News: Ghana Finds a Manager, Messi & Argentina’s Weird Vibe, Ill-Fitting WC Kits & U.S. Soccer’s Front Office Shakeup
🇦🇷 What’s Going on With Argentina and Messi?
In late March, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni shared that “it’s up to him,” referencing whether or not Leo Messi would play in this summer’s World Cup. But, he’s going to play… right? RIGHT?! The legendary 38-year-old hasn’t confirmed his participation, and remains coy about the subject. La Albiceleste as a whole, meanwhile, will head into this summer’s tournament having played seven friendlies – all of which were against non-tournament participants and included the likes of Zambia and Mauritania – as preparation. As reigning champions, it’s an odd buildup to the competition, and fans' worries are becoming more vocal as a result.
🇬🇭 The Tournament’s Only Manager-less Team Has Found Their Man
Carlos Queiroz is set to coach in his fifth-straight World Cup after being named Ghana’s head coach. The Black Stars recently sacked manager Otto Addo, and the Portuguese boss will now take the helm after leading Iran on the touchline in the last three competitions, along with Portugal to the Round of 16 in 2010. His first match on May 22 against Mexico will be one of two pre-tournament warmups before the competition begins. Yeah, two warmups. Phew.
🇺🇲 An Unexpected Twist for Team USA
U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker is reportedly set to leave his role with immediate effect for a similar position with Saudi Arabia, just 58 days before the start of the competition in the USA this summer. Crocker recruited both Mauricio Pochettino and Emma Hayes in their respective roles after arriving in 2023, but has left the USSF after just under three years at the helm in what is described as “weird timing” for a departure. Assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, head of women's development Tracey Kevins and Dan Helfrich, the organization's COO, will take over Crocker’s duties through the World Cup.
"I anticipate zero impact on World Cup preparation as a result of Matt's decision," Helfrich said Monday to FOX Sports. "Mauricio and his staff have full control of the preparations for this summer's tournament, and we have full confidence in them. This transition in no way impacts those plans, which have been long-established."
🎽 Nike’s Strange World Cup Jersey Design
Nike’s high-tech World Cup kits have a major shoulder problem, and they don’t know what to do about it. It became a well-known issue during the international break, with fans and players alike pointing out a major shoulder bulge. The brand responded, claiming that they’re aware of the mistake, but no resolution has been met yet. The design of the kits reportedly utilized AI-driven technology alongside company designers, and while the sporting giant’s next steps for this summer’s marquee shirts have not been announced, with a worldwide rollout already in motion, it’s become a borderline unfixable issue.
More: Looks like the same issue is plaguing kits on the women’s side too.
The Latest Around the Host Cities📍
🏨 Concerns Over World Cup Economic Boom
Official members of hotel associations in New York City, Philadelphia and San Francisco have claimed they have not seen a surge in demand for reservations during the World Cup. In 2025, FIFA advised host cities to expect a 50/50 split amongst domestic and international visitors, along with a $30.5 billion economic boost based on the assumption of how much international travelers spend in comparison to domestic. Two months out from the tournament, it’s unclear if the number of fans needed to come close to that will even attend the competition. Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, FIFA recently cancelled over 2,000 hotel reservations - leading to further disappointment in a prominent host city for the World Cup.
🤑 NJ Transit Wants to Get in on This Summer’s Action
Fans staying in New York City for this summer’s tournament are reportedly going to be hit with $100 return-trip train tickets from MetLife Stadium to Penn Station, courtesy of New Jersey’s NJ Transit. Tickets are currently being modeled with a 7x price increase for the competition, which mimics Boston’s choice to similarly raise prices. A ticket, normally listed at $12.90 — which was the price at last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup — will now cost as much as 100 dollar-slices. Think about that.
🫣 Going Beyond On-the-Ground Security
U.S.-based security agencies are concerned that state-backed hackers or criminal enterprises could be targeting this summer’s competition. In 2022, the Qatar tournament was nearly the victim of a China-linked phone hack, while earlier this year, the Italian government claimed they thwarted multiple Russia-linked cyber attacks during the Olympics. To make matters worse, this news arrives following President Trump declaring that ICE would play a “key role” in security for the upcoming World Cup.
More: How host cities are working to prevent such attacks with proper training exercises.
World Cup Memories: Wild Songs Edition 🎵
There’s nothing more symbolic about the buildup to this World Cup than hearing this absolutely sensational French national team song before the tournament, only to find out it was created by AI - just like this Portugal one, this Brazil one and… well, unfortunately, this Jellyroll one is real, but we wish it wasn’t. Conversely, here are five great World Cup-adjacent songs to put yourself in the mood for this summer’s tournament:
“World in Motion” by New Order: As rave culture consumed the UK in 1990, England’s football team caught the wave and collaborated with Manchester’s own New Order to produce arguably the coolest football song of all time. Come for the synth pop euphoria and earworm chorus, stay for Liverpool legend John Barnes’ incredible rap.
“Waka Waka” by Shakira: Your hips get shaking, your eyebrows start bumping and the words come out. We don’t make the rules, that’s just what happens. Per FIFA, it’s the 2010 World Cup anthem, but for this modern generation of fans, it’s thee World Cup anthem. Thank you for your service, Shakira.
“Ramenez la coupe à la maison” (Allez Les Bleus) by Vegedream: It’s 2018 again and there’s this child named Kylian Mbappé who is blowing your mind. You’re watching the last dance for Matuidi and Antoine Griezmann is slowly becoming one of your favorite footballers. France wins the World Cup – and then this perfect song celebrating it is released.
“Carnaval De Paris” by Dario G: You’re in a Parisian backstreet drinking an espresso as some melancholic accordions lull you into a French sense of security. But wait, where did those huge samba drums come from? Dario G’s France ‘98 anthem was somehow derived from folk song, “Oh My Darling Clementine," but this international trance collage of horns, mandolins and bagpipes flips it on its head, taking you on an epic instrumental tour of global music and football.
“Wavin’ Flag” by K'naan: While genuinely good football songs are hard to come by, South Africa 2010 managed to strike gold twice. “Wavin Flag” is still played during World Cup buildups no matter where the setting, because it’s anthemic, memorable and, most importantly, humanly joyous.
And how could we forget? Two bizarre honorary mentions that will brighten your Wednesday:
“Shout for England” by James Corden and Dizzee Rascal: Before Corden invaded America, he was an unavoidable presence on British TVs, billboards, and apparently football songs. No one asked for this strange mashup of Tears for Fears’ “Shout” and Blackstreet’s “No Diggity,” but before a memorably miserable 2010 World Cup for England, they got it anyway.
“World Cup” by IShowSpeed. We’ll keep this short. This song is so ridiculous that it makes you both smile and laugh, while still being a complete travesty of a track.
What Else Is Happening Around Football 📰
World Cup-adjacent art made out of soccer balls? We’re so in.
Shocking MLS news: Messi will be getting a new coach after Javier Mascherano resigned from his Inter Miami post.
A story to keep an eye on: An update on the SoFi Stadium workers threatening to strike ahead of the World Cup.
A retrial over the death of Diego Maradona began Tuesday. All the info you need.
Well, this isn’t what anyone wants. Potential U.S. host cities for 2031 Women’s World Cup games mull withdrawal over FIFA concerns.
A good question for today: Who are the greatest footballers never to make an appearance in England?
MLS will have fewer U.S. World Cup players than ever. Its impact is being felt anyway.
It’s World Cup Trivia Time 🤔
For this week’s trivia question, we thought we’d stay on our musical theme. During the opening ceremony of the 1994 World Cup, which Motown icon sang what song at which iconic venue?
Email us with your answers for a chance to win a much-coveted MiB patch!
Last week we asked: Which men’s World Cup holds the record for the most red cards (a stunning 28) in one edition? The answer: 2006.
Congrats to Graeme Hodson, who was the first person to respond with the correct answer. Graeme, send us your address and we’ll get you a patch!
👋 We’ll see you again tomorrow. In the meantime, keep sending your stories, questions, and theories about WTF is going with Argentina’s national team to [email protected].
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