The 2023 Women's World Cup is here, bringing emotions too strong for words. But not to worry, the article doesn't end now with a profound case of writer's block — here are two videos to get you immediately hyped for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, beginning with the official song of the World Cup: "DO IT AGAIN" by BENEE feat. Mallrat.
It's an instant classic.
On the surface there's only one battle at the 2023 World Cup — the battle to see who lifts the trophy at Stadium Australia in Sydney on August 20. But we all know there are various subplots to follow: Golden Boot, Golden Ball, records to be broken and — one that's raging currently — who gets the best custom tailored threads for the event.
The World Cup travel suit has become an emblematic symbol of sport's most prestigious and distinguished event, and a few squads have already set themselves apart in this department.
The first team to capture my eye was Brazil.
With an expanded 32-team tournament and matches across Australia and New Zealand, the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup (beginning with a crowd of over 100,000 for the Matildas opener against Ireland) is going to be the best in the competition's 32-year history.
The USWNT is favored for a three-peat but that's never been done before, and there will be fierce competition from European champions England, two-time world champs Germany and teams looking to take the next step like France and Spain.
As the confetti fell and thousands of lightbulbs flashed in Lyon, France, on July 7, 2019, USA’s players climbed the podium to celebrate the fulfillment of a dream that had required years of sacrifice, total commitment and a single-minded belief in accomplishing it all.
A captivated global audience delighted in what these 23 women had achieved — a historic fourth world title for the U.S. — but the players themselves took a moment to immortalize a staff member whose personal journey mirrored their own with the following chant: “Chef! Chef! Chef!”
Although Wednesday's MLS All-Star Game from the nation's capital will feature all the league's must-watch talent (minus Lionel Messi) and Arsenal's flourishing squad, the biggest cheer of the night might be reserved for a Gunners player who spent last season in France and who might not even be on the roster come September: instant USMNT hero Folarin Balogun.
On the one hand, Alexandre Pato isn't old — he's only 33. On the other, memories of his footballing career belong to the wizened generations. It's been a decade since his last appearance for Brazil and 12 years since that unforgettable goal against Barcelona.
Sorry, Panama. I know the Gold Cup final is later Sunday night, but the tournament has already been won by Mexico after members of the national team met the child who wanted to be Mexican — so he could spend his days eating quesadillas — and presented him with that delicacy and an El Tri jersey.
It was revealed in the original video that the four-year-old boy has Ethiopian roots, but that's all over now — just look at how content he is to be wearing La Verde and eating that delicious cheesiness melted inside a warm tortilla.
Harry Kane has won a trophy — a trophy in the game of life by successfully eating 10 increasingly spicy wings on "Hot Ones" and living to tell the tale.
His people missed a pretty big opportunity to announce a transfer to Bayern Munich while sweating profusely and with tears in his eyes after eating wing #10, so if you're a Tottenham supporter you've got nothing to worry about.
For the rest of you, I know what you've come to see: Harry Kane's facial reactions.
Wing #1: Classic hot sauce
Major League Soccer is preparing to enter a new era following the arrival of the Greatest Of All Time, but the wall-to-wall coverage of Lionel Messi's movements in Miami has been momentarily broken by a seismic shift from America's second division, the USL.