ZWF: Embarking on a new era in American Soccer
Zander's Weekend Facts #75: Sunday, July 16, 2023
Inside this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts, how the game of soccer is about to explode in America, and a look at what Zander’s been reading this past week. Plus, a compilation of the top headlines you need to know from the last seven days.
Also, go listen to the latest episode of the Zander’s Facts podcast! Episode 111 features a conversation on the latest events taking place in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Go download the Zander’s Facts podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
Here are Zander’s Weekend Facts for Sunday, July 16, 2023:
Soccer continues its upward trajectory in the US
It’s an exciting time to be a soccer fan in America.
It’s been said on Zander’s Facts platforms many times recently, and it must be said here again.
Yes, what has been the widest-kept secret in sports, Lionel Messi joining Inter Miami CF, was officially confirmed by the club on Saturday.
We had all known it was going to happen, Messi even said it himself, but the paperwork had not been agreed to until recently, meaning the club on its official channels couldn’t **really** say that Messi was coming. So we had to settle for graphics like this:
Now it’s really happening, as evidenced by the photo of Messi in an actual Inter Miami kit above. Miami are planning a massive introduction tonight at 8:30 pm et, which will be broadcast live on Apple TV. Messi, and potentially Sergio Busquets, Messi’s former teammate at Barcelona, will be introduced as the next stars of MLS.
It’s not hard to imagine what this will do for the league. Millions, potentially tens or hundreds, will turn their attention to Major League Soccer to watch who many believe to be the greatest ever to play the game.
Adidas, who supply the league’s kits, will want to, and will, sell as many pink Messi jerseys as possible, bringing the MLS logo to places across the globe it’s never been seen.
Apple, the league’s broadcast partner, have given Messi a cut of their international subscription revenue, signifying they’re all in on promoting the league not just in the U.S., but everywhere Messi fans reside. Just open up the Apple TV app on your phone and you’ll see for yourself.
Messi will undoubtedly have his work cut out for him. Miami are currently sitting at the bottom of the table in the Eastern Conference on MLS with just 18 points after 22 matches played. In the penultimate match before Messi’s arrival last night, Miami fell 3-0 on the road to St. Louis CITY SC, who despite being in their first season are on top of the Western Conference table.
Yet, even his presence, like those who have come before such as David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and Wayne Rooney, will be elevating for the league. But you’d have to think the man who has scored 91 goals in a calendar year, who just won the World Cup with his beloved home country just under one year ago, won’t just be here for shits and giggles.
It will not just be the existence of Messi playing competitive matches in the United States. It will be the way he does so. The way he will play, when actually playing for something meaningful, will be something that this country has never remotely seen. Forget silly summer pre-season friendlies between Europe’s top stars, we’re talking about matches that actually matter.
And because Europe doesn’t begin their club season for another month, all eyes on the men’s side will rest on the U.S. And that’s a great thing not just for Miami or Messi, but for Major League Soccer.
When Messi takes the pitch for the first time in pink, which likely will be Friday in the Leagues Cup competition against Mexican side Cruz Azul (8:00 pm et on Apple TV+), he will immediately be the most talented player to don the MLS emblem. It will turn what would ordinarily be a regular match into a must-watch around the world. (A wonderful Friday night conundrum for soccer fans considering the two-time defending Women’s World Cup champion United States kicks off group play in the 2023 edition of the tournament at 9:00 pm et against Vietnam on Fox.)
But wait, there’s even more to be excited about. Besides the greatest active soccer player coming stateside.
There’s also the aforementioned USWNT attempting to become the only nation to win three straight World Cups, men’s or women’s. (The Zander’s Facts podcast will preview the Women’s World Cup on this Wednesday’s podcast.)
We also have the U.S. men, who showed their dominance over their regional rivals in last month’s Concacaf Nations League. The performance of a B-C level squad in the Concacaf Gold Cup ended with a penalty shootout loss to Panama in the semifinals on Wednesday. Of course, it would have been nice to end up with another trophy, but it gave us an opportunity to see who could be up next with a young, MLS-heavy roster.
And if this summer has felt loaded with state-side soccer, just wait.
The ‘Summer of Soccer’ will be a term that can be used to describe not just next summer. Or the one after that. But for the next three summers, the soccer world will descend on the United States.
In 2024, CONMEBOL’s Copa América, the third-most prestigious national team tournament in the world, will make its way to the States. Defending champion Argentina, top-ranked Brazil, and South America’s best will face off against the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and other Concacaf nations in crucial competitive matches before 2026.
In 2025, a newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup will make its way to the States, with top clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, and others facing competition from across the globe, including MLS’ Seattle Sounders. And the Concacaf Gold Cup will return in what could mark the comeback of the USMNT first-team to the competition.
And then, there’s 2026. The crown jewel of them all, the FIFA World Cup, will be hosted in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. 48 nations will descend on North America to play, and the eight billion people of the globe will have their eyes glued to the pitches of New York, Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and other American metropolises.
And unlike in 1994, the lone time the U.S. previously hosted the World Cup, the United States Men’s National Team will actually prove competitive. Led by frequent team captain Christian Pulisic, who just made a significant move in the club world from England’s Chelsea to Italy’s AC Milan in an attempt to re-capture the form that played a key role in Chelsea winning the 2021 UEFA Champions League.
By summer of 2026’s end, the U.S. will be at the height of soccer mania. The world’s best will have come to claim the trophies they have dreamed about all their lives. MLS will seek to capitalize and bring more stars to elevate the league. And Americans in Europe such as Pulisic will continue improving our nation’s own national team, while inspiring the next generation to grow the game.
(There’s also the chance that the U.S. and Mexico host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, just warning you.)
Let the arrival of Lionel Messi, and the future Summers of Soccer, be another reminder that the calls from decades past of “soccer is coming to America” have finally transpired.
Soccer is here. Get ready, America.
For more information on this week’s top story, here’s an article from ESPN - What Messi's MLS, Apple, Adidas deal means for everyone else
What Zander’s been reading
It turns out football coaches may not become the best Congressmen. Former football coach Tommy Tuberville is the senior Republican Senator from Alabama and has been making news recently. Tuberville is currently blocking all military nominations and promotions in the Senate due to abortion policy, leaving the Marine Corps without a Senate-confirmed leader for the first time in a century. But Tuberville has also seemingly been extremely sympathetic towards those identifying themselves as white nationalists.
Check out this week’s featured article at The Guardian - Republican senator finally ends crusade to defend white nationalists - (Apple News link)
Rapid-fire Facts
These are top news headlines from the past week in rapid-fire fashion:
NATO Summit: NATO’s latest summit took place last week in Vilnius, Lithuania, with leaders from all 31 NATO nations attending. The summit took place with the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the forefront, with Vilnius sitting just 20 miles from the Belarus border, a key ally of Russia. Expansion of NATO was also a key talking point, with Sweden having won the approval of key holdout Turkey to join the alliance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also attended the summit, arguing that Ukraine deserved membership. U.S. President Joe Biden claimed that Ukraine should be allowed in NATO, but only after the war with Russia has ended.
Inflation Numbers: Inflation numbers in the U.S. continued to drop in June, with the consumer price index rising just 3% year-over-year. That is the lowest level of inflation growth since March 2021. From May to June, the CPI rose 0.2%, below estimates of 0.3%. Average hourly earnings, when adjusted for inflation, rose 1.2% year-over-year and 0.2% from May to June. The numbers released last week show a continued decline in inflation, which peaked at 9% in June 2022. The Federal Reserve is still expected to issue another rate hike at its meeting later this month, although some expect it could be the last in the near future as inflation numbers reach the Fed’s target of 2% year-over-year.
Actors Strike: The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists went on strike last week. SAG-AFTRA and major Hollywood film and television studios, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed to reach a deal regarding compensation of actors. Smaller residual checks due to streaming and concerns about the use of artificial intelligence as potential substitutes in tv and film have been the actors’ main sticking points. SAG-AFTRA joins the Writers Guild of America on the picket lines, the first time actors and writers have engaged in a “double strike” in nearly six decades.
Student Loan Forgiveness: After the Supreme Court struck down President Biden’s plan to forgive $400 billion in federal student loans, the Department of Education announced a new plan on Friday. The plan would automatically forgive the federal student loans of over 800,000 borrowers by issuing a “fix” to income-driven repayment plans, with the department saying that some qualifying payments towards being eligible for forgiveness weren’t accounted for. The move is expected to forgive up to $39 billion in student loan debt, with additional plans expected to be pursued by the Biden administration.
Birth Control Pill: The FDA approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill in the U.S. on Thursday. Opill, from drugmaker Perrigo, does not need a prescription and has been approved in an effort to improve access to contraception, according to the FDA. Perrigo says the drug will begin to be available early next year. Meanwhile, the state of Iowa became the latest to restrict access to abortion, passing a six-week abortion ban that includes exceptions for rape, incest, or a medical emergency. The measure, which was passed during a special legislative session, is now being challenged in court.
Zander’s Facts Sporting Club
Here are the top headlines from the sports world in the Sporting Club:
Wimbledon: It’s championship weekend at The Championships, Wimbledon, with the women’s championship having taken place yesterday and the men’s set for this morning. In the women’s championship, Marketa Vondrousova took down #6 Ons Jabeur in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4. Vondrousova became the first unseeded woman to win the final at Wimbledon, also winning her first Grand Slam title. In today’s men’s championship, #1 Carlos Alcaraz will face #2 Novak Djokovic. Alcaraz is seeking his first Wimbledon title and second Grand Slam, while Djokovic is looking for his eighth Wimbledon title and third Grand Slam this year. The men’s final begins today at 9:00 am et on ESPN.
Northwestern Hazing: Northwestern head football coach Pat Fitzgerald was fired on Monday after initially receiving a two-week suspension. An investigation into the Northwestern football program found evidence of hazing activities that included sexualized behavior, which were brought to the attention of the athletic program by a whistleblower. After the school announced the initial two-week, unpaid suspension, the whistleblower detailed the allegations to the school newspaper, The Daily Northwestern. Northwestern president Michael Schill then announced he would reconsider the penalty, which led to the firing. All assistant coaches remain with the program, with defensive coordinator David Braun being named interim head coach.
Tennessee Football: The NCAA Committee on Infractions released the results of an investigation into violations committed by the Tennessee football program. The NCAA found that the program committed over 200 violations under former head coach Jeremy Pruitt, who was fired in January 2021. Pruitt and his wife were found giving out direct payment to two players who ultimately attended Tennessee, while the program was also found of engaging in a scheme to skirt unofficial recruiting visit rules. Tennessee was fined $8 million, will lose 28 scholarships over the next five years, will vacate wins and be placed on probation, and Pruitt was given a six-year show cause order.
PGA-LIV Merger: Executives within the PGA Tour testified before Congress last week as part of an investigation into the tour’s deal with LIV Golf. PGA Tour COO Ron Price and board member Jimmy Dunne testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which has launched an investigation into the deal. Representatives from LIV, which is financially backed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, did not attend due to scheduling conflicts. It was learned during the hearing that proposals for the merger have included having featured PGA Tour players Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods participate in LIV events, while Saudi PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan sought membership to Augusta National Golf Club.
Russia/Belarus Olympics: The International Olympic Committee announced last week that when it sends its invitations to the 2024 Olympics in Paris later this month, the countries of Russia and Belarus will not receive invites. The decision was made due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which Belarus has supported as an ally of Russia. Russian and Belarusian athletes will still be eligible to participate in the games as neutral athletes. Guatemala has also been suspended due to alleged government interference with the National Olympic Committee in the country. The 2024 Summer Olympics are set to begin on July 26 of next year in Paris, France.
Wrapping up the Facts
Before this edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts wraps up, here’s another reminder to check out the latest episodes of the Zander’s Facts podcast. Download and listen to the latest episode of the podcast, along with every episode of Zander’s Facts, wherever you get your podcasts.
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You can also listen to every episode of the podcast on this very website. All Zander’s Facts podcast episodes are now available on zandersfacts.substack.com under the “Zander’s Facts” tab for your enjoyment! That includes the next episode of the Zander’s Facts podcast, which comes out this Wednesday!
That’s a wrap on this week’s edition of Zander’s Weekend Facts. The facts in print return next Sunday, July 23, 2023.
