Before we hop into today’s World Cup talk, let’s take a moment to catch our breaths and savor the wonder that was yesterday’s explosive PSG vs. Bayern Munich Champions League shootout. Luis Enrique’s French giants might’ve walked away with the 5-4 win in arguably the game of the season, but the real victor here was the entire planet, as we were treated to one of the most entertaining high-stakes football matches in recent memory. Frankly, the PSG manager said it better than we ever could:

While we expect today’s Atlético Madrid vs. Arsenal game to be more chess at 0.5x speed, compared to yesterday’s Red Bull-soaked, heavy-metal checkers, maybe Simeone or Arteta will feel inspired to introduce a bit of anarchy after watching the fireworks display in Paris. At the very least, according to Vincent Kompany, we have one thing to look forward to next week in the sequel to yesterday’s clash of the titans: “more, more, even more.” In the meantime, here are our three favorite goals from the game itself:

3️⃣ Michael Olise with just a stunning individual effort. This kid is embracing the Terminator within.

2️⃣ Of course, he might’ve been outdone by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and this absolute bullet, one of his two on the night.

1️⃣ While Bayern took the L, this Harry Kane-to-Luis-Díaz finish is the perfect encapsulation of why we wish this was a best-of-seven series.

ii. Now then, as it’s Wednesday, it means it’s once again time to talk all things World Cup. We’re only 43 days from kickoff, and yesterday we got our first partial look at a roster with co-hosts Mexico releasing the domestic portion of their team for the competition. That right there is the sound of anticipation building, and while we’re still a month or so out from official roster announcements, there’s still plenty to discuss in the meantime:

iii. Here’s a good argument for the single country with the best kits in all of football. Hard to disagree. 👀

iv. While out shooting in Marseille yesterday, Rog and fate joined forces in stunning fashion. Looks like someone’s getting his post-Liverpool career started early. 😂

Cheers,
Jacob Schneider, Tommy Stewart & Max Bonem

P.S. This is both very funny and very true in perfectly equal measure. 🇬🇪

Injuries Threatening Star-Studded World Cup Matches 🤕

First it was reigning Argentinian champion Cristian Romero, then Brazil’s teenage phenom Estêvão and Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal - and now - France captain and 2018 winner, Kylian Mbappé, is the latest international star whose 2026 World Cup dream is suddenly in jeopardy. Football fans around the world are seeing their favorite players suffer late-season injuries with their club teams, and we’re now looking at a tournament where some of the game’s most iconic footballers may not participate. There’s already a growing list of individuals who have been ruled out due to injury - with Spurs/Netherlands forward Xavi Simons as the latest inclusion - but can this summer’s World Cup afford any more casualties? And is a race to get healthy the best course of action? It remains to be seen.

More: In 2020, Wayne Rooney admitted he was not fit enough to play in the 2006 World Cup for England, and that he should not have gone to the tournament. Let’s hope we don’t see any similar cases this summer.

A Yellow Card Rule Change Years in the Making 🟨

FIFA is reportedly set to add a second amnesty stage to the competition, wiping all yellow cards accumulated after the group phase and after the quarterfinals. In previous editions, if a player were to receive two yellow cards within the first five matches of the tournament, they would have been suspended for the match following their second caution. Now, cards will be wiped twice, thus meaning fewer suspensions due to accumulation will occur. In the past, we’ve seen notable moments where players missed out on crucial WC matches due to the rule, most famously with Thiago Silva being suspended for Brazil in 2014 when the hosts were, let’s say, “embarrassed” by Joachim Löw’s Germany squad.

Marco Rubio: Iran ‘Welcome’ to Participate in WC 🇮🇷

The U.S. Secretary of State has affirmed that Iran’s national team is welcome to compete at the World Cup this summer, amid ongoing political tensions between the two nations. He warned, however, that the U.S. may opt to bar entry to members of their delegation judged to have ties to Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who have been labeled as a terrorist organization by several governments, including the U.S. The news comes after U.S. special envoy Paolo Zampolli shared that he asked the president and FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to place Italy in the World Cup, replacing Iran in the competition. Italy’s Sports minister, Andrea Abodi, responded saying that such a decision would be "not possible, and secondly, not appropriate.”

Civil Rights Groups Warn WC Visitors Over Potential Human Rights Violations in U.S. ✍️

More than 100 civil society organizations and MLS and NWSL-affiliated fan groups have shared an advisory to any potential visitors in the U.S. ahead of the World Cup this summer. It warns of six separate risks, claiming they are “in breach of the United States’ human rights obligations under domestic and international law.” This follows news that we discussed last week of Infantino reportedly sending a plea to President Trump asking for a full moratorium on ICE operations during the competition as a result of stadium staff in Los Angeles threatening to go on strike due to immigration enforcement fears.

NYC Pivots to Free Fan Fests 🎉

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the NYNJ Host Committee announced free fan fest events in all five boroughs of the city on Monday, reversing a decision to charge for admission from previous agreements. Gov. Hochul’s administration will provide $20 million in funding for World Cup-related events around NYC, including watch parties, cultural celebrations and other events related to the competitions. Restaurants and bars, meanwhile, will be enabled to host more “off-site activities,” including potentially allowing patrons to drink in the street, if a bill for “entertainment zones” during the competition is agreed upon.

More: New York officials to residents: ‘Please just work from home during the WC.’

Gillette Stadium Will Allow Tailgating After All 🍻

After previously stating that tailgating would not be allowed at the venue throughout the World Cup, Boston’s Host Committee announced on Monday that they were reversing their decision. Gillette Stadium will now allow fans to party/hang out in the parking lot outside the stadium throughout the seven matches in the competition. Cheers, Boston: There is grilled meat, a cold beer and beautiful parking lot football in your future.

#Trainwatch2026 Continues 🚆

Welcome back to what we assume is your favorite part of this newsletter. Last week, we mentioned the latest debacle with N.J. Transit and their ongoing feud with FIFA over WC train ticket prices. But in a slate of good news, down in South Florida, Miami-Dade County and the Miami Host Committee will provide complimentary matchday shuttles exclusively for personnel with match tickets traveling to Hard Rock Stadium this summer. The Dolphins’ home will host four group-stage matches, two knockout-round contests and the third-place game. Fans will have their matchday ticket scanned at each train hub prior to boarding, and from there, the experience will be free. 

As European seasons start drawing to a close, all eyes are on the U.S. player pool and how they finish out their respective campaigns. Here are some of the highlights and stories from this past week:

There have been over 2,700 goals scored across the near 100-year history of the competition – some touched by the hand of God and others by the feet (hooves?) of GOATs. But it’s those precious last-minute finishes that we watch on repeat and overly romanticize between World Cups. Here are five of the most memorable late-match winners in WC history:

Did we miss one? It’s fine, we’re not perfect. Send us your favorites to [email protected].

This week’s question: Who set the record in 2010 for the latest goal scored in a World Cup final? We’d like the name of the player, the minute scored and his country, please.

Email us with your answers for a chance to win a much-coveted MiB patch!

Last week’s answer: Who was the only World Cup team brave enough to rock a sleeveless kit at the competition? That would be Cameroon in 2002 (what a fit). Congratulations to Chris Johnson in Greenville, S.C., for being the first person to answer correctly. Chris, send us your address and we’ll get you a patch!

👋 We’ll see you again tomorrow. In the meantime, keep sending your stories and questions to [email protected].

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