What Now? with Trevor Noah - WORLD CUP Bonus Episode: First Week

Episode Date: June 16, 2026

Less than one week in, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is already delivering surprises. Trevor and his football frenemy Joe Opio discuss Germany's 7-1 rout of Curaçao, whether Mexico beat South Africa or South Africa lost to Mexico and why those aren't the same thing, and a statement win from the US against Paraguay. They also dive into the ways football is borrowing from basketball, hand out some early flowers (and a few early critiques), and try to figure out what we've actually learned from a tournament that seems determined to keep everyone guessing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is brought to you by Verizon. As an official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Verizon is bringing once-in-a-lifetime experiences to their customers. Free tickets to matches, pitch-side access during gameplay, and meet and greets with soccer legends. If you're not with Verizon, no sweat. Stop by a Verizon store to get in on the action and learn about their offers for new customers.

No one gets you closer to the FIFA World Cup, 2026. than Verizon. This is What Now with Trevor Noah. We made it, Joe. Oh, we did. We made it. Here we are. What is this?

Eight years of planning, four years of waiting, and then one week of chaos. Welcome to week one of the 26 FIFA World Cup hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada. You know, even saying it makes it feel as, as jam-packed as it's been. More countries hosting than ever before. More games than ever before.

More countries participating than ever before. I don't remember the last time I started watching a game in the same country as the games are hosted, by the way, at midnight. Yeah, it's, first of all, the gestation period, when you said eight years, actually, it's been eight years. Yeah, it's been eight years of planning, yeah. Eight years in which, wow. But I feel like now that we are.

here and as I think about the World Cup now that we are here, it feels like it was worth the weight. It does. Yeah, it does. Maybe that's a good place to start. Like, let's jump straight into the games. Who surprised you? Who has underwhelmed you? Who shows

promise? I mean, like, if we think of the big teams, the one that comes top of mind, you know, because it was one of the most recent games, Germany. They're the first like big team who said we're a big team. They're the first team who shown that they're a big team. They needed it. They had a scare. of course, at 1-1, you went like, oh, here it goes again.

Because Germany, after winning the World Cup in Brazil, 2014, they have failed in the next two World Cups to make it past the group stages. 2018, they stayed behind, having lost to Mexico in the opening game. And then last World Cup, they lost to Japan, and things went down to from there. So they needed this win. But then when Kurosau equalized, they went like, oh, here it goes again. Here it goes again. So, yeah, Germany have definitely, definitely.

That was a statement win. It definitely was. I mean, beating a team 7-1, you know, you think at like 5-1, you start relaxing. Germans don't show mercy. No, they don't. Yeah, they really don't. But the funny thing is the reaction from Kurosau. Like, I've been online and Krosal fans, credit to them are like, for us, this was historic.

The fact that we were invited to the high table and we held our own for as long as we did. And we scored our first World Cup goal ever, smallest country ever take part in a World Cup, 150,000 people. It means a lot to them. So for them, because we were comparing them to Brazil. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We went like, oh, 7-1, oh, Brazil has handed over the mantle. They went like, no, we are proud.

Brazil was traumatized for us today. It was a national holiday. It is amazing. You know, one of the things that I love about the World Cup is how every team comes to the World Cup with a different objective in mind. Yes. Like every team.

So if you come in as one of the big teams, if you're France, if you're Spain, if you're Germany, if you are Argentina, anything less than success, anything less than victory is deemed a failure. Yes. If you come in as one of like the middling teams, then it's like, can you get far?

Yes. You know, so like no one's expecting Japan to win. No one's expecting Cote d'Ivoire to win. No one's expecting South Korea to win. No one's expecting, you know, Kurosau to. But then there's teams like Kurosau actually. And like Qatar and all these teams where it's like, if they get one goal.

Yes. Yes. They treat it like they won the World Cup. Yes. And I think in fairness to Kurosau. they were handed the toughest opening game over the small teams. You think so?

Yes, because Haiti, you know, they lost to Scotland. But Scotland, you go like, you know, is Scotland and Britain Haiti 7-1. That's true. But they're facing Germany who are four-time. It's like the worst way

to welcome them to the World Cup party. Or the best way. Yeah, the Germans. Oh, yeah, actually. All the best way. Because it can only go up. You know, you know, I don't know if you saw this. After the game,

some of the German players went and prayed with the players from Corosso. And I was just like, it was like a beautiful moment. But I was also like, that's when you know someone has demolished you is when they even going to pray with you after the game. You're like sportsmanship. Like that's, though. That's when I knew, that like, you know, when I got like the biggest spankings from my mom

was when she prayed with me afterwards. She was like, yeah. Yeah, she's like, now that you got your beating, come. Let's pray. Let's pray that this never happens to you again. Pray for forgiveness. You also make it seem like the Germans had a bit of residual guilt. They were like, oh, I've never seen that, though.

I've never seen. They didn't do it to Brazil, certainly. No, they didn't. And Brazil also has religious players in the team. Yes. Yeah, but they went and they prayed with them, which I like. It had the spirit of the World Cup. You know who didn't pray after beating their opponents?

Mexico against South Africa in the opening? Yo, man. To be fair, I thought South Africans, and I told you this, I think South Africa beat itself. I don't think Mexico beats South Africa. You don't think so? No, I don't think. Okay, say more how.

So they committed an error at the opening. The opening goal was a gift. By the defensive midfielder, receives the ball, yeah, turned. He scanned way earlier. Yes. Received the ball, but his touch was horrific. And then he was chasing the ball and then it was too late.

Yes. And then, you know, the two red cards didn't hope. So for me, I feel like South Africa. Look, I know South Africans think that maybe they're. team is hopeless after that. But I think the result, I think the, South Africa was very, first of all, they played way cautiously. Yeah.

They were way, they played almost negatively. That's, that's the issue that I think South Africans have is we're not concerned about, like, we don't think the team's hopeless. Yes, yes. It didn't look like we were trying to win the game. And you don't go through by drawing three games. No, no, you get what I'm saying? Like, you don't come to a World Cup, draw three games and then think that's enough to take

you through. No, but also, if you go, as a coach, if you go, okay, we're going to play conservatively. they were, let's say, Japan played the opening minutes of their game against. You're going to play, you're hoping none of your players makes a mistake. Because then when your player makes a mistake and then you give to the other team a goal, now your plan goes out of the window. Yeah, but then I would argue, right, if you're playing a game like that, you're playing against a team that has way more players playing in Europe.

You know, the Mexican team, even on paper, seems like a better team in South Africa. Then do what, do what Japan did against the Netherlands in the first half. They didn't waste too much time holding the ball. They made sure they moved the ball to the other side of the field. Get the ball out of your danger area. Then play. See if you can get a few shots. See if you can.

Because the pressure people, the pressure's on you. Mexico's at home in a historic stadium. Their fans are all behind them. All of Africa is up against you as South Africa. So you have like double the fan base against you. And there's the nerves. There's the nerves of all of this. Why are you playing a game that relies on calm when you're that nervous?

I would have just, to be honest, I would have played that game out. I would have played it closer to Japan who, yo. They had a great, but you asked me about the team that has surprised me the most. Japan, I expected it. Yeah. The team, because Japan, you know, as I told you, they have beaten Spain, they have beaten Germany in the last World Cup. Right, right, right, right. They've beaten Brazil and they've beaten England in their friendlies.

I expected, I expected them to hold their own against the Dutch. The team that blew me away was the US. I watched that game. You couldn't recognize the US. You kept asking who is this, yes. The United States of Spain. That's what that was. That was incredible.

Yes. The United States of Golazos, the United States of Tikitaka, the United States of Total Football, the United States of Travellas, the United States of total, like the pressing up the field. Do you know what I mean? When you look at that team and how they were playing the game, yo, I still cannot get over. Okay, here's what's more interesting to me. It's not the fact that Team USA played the way that they did. It's that Team USA seems to have him.

hidden this until now. They did beat your wife for one, which was impressive, but I thought it was a one-off. Yes, but beat versus how they play. Yes. Yes. It was very un-American. And I know normally in America, that's a bad thing. But when it comes to football,

football styles, that was a very un-American style. They were, it was yoga, bonito. It was yoga. It was yoga, yeah. They were enjoying themselves. Antonin Robinson was inviting. Saginao Desk was inviting. They were attacking. Police was having fun on the wing. You had Western McKinney making

like runs into the box. It was every player deserved a 10. Can I tell you if you invested in all of those players before that game you would be receiving the highest return on investment. Like their their stock price after that game has skyrocketed. You would be

receiving higher returns than even the space example. Yeah no no no. This is like this is there's no one like Balagon for instance. He went from who is this guy only like deep football fans knew Balagan and now he is a sought-after striker. He runs off the ball in that game.

His touches on the ball. His touches, yes. He's striking. The goal is scored. The second goal was insane. That touch to him, oh my God. And again, because now I'm wondering, do we credit Pachet, you know, for that?

Because these are the same players. These same players. Yeah. Under the old coach, Greg Belalter. It's the same team exactly, almost the same exact team. Same thing, Balagon, everyone. Yes.

but they've changed, something has changed. Yeah, then you have to credit the coach. And I think people, that's when people go like, oh, you need a top coach as well. You need a top coach. Because normally, you know, the coaches for the international teams don't get as much time with the players.

Yeah, they don't. So it's sadder for them to impose their philosophy, but Pochartina has clearly found a way. No, he's found a way. I mean, has he also found pressure now, though? Like, do you, I always wonder if you want to just win versus thrash the opponent

going into the next game. Because part of me wonders if now Team USA has put a target on their backs. And at most World Cups, I find the winner is generally somebody who escapes the magnifying glass at the beginning. You know, you escape that focus. You look at Argentina and Qatar.

You look at Spain in 2010. You look at any tournament, even France when they won it. Like, you just, you look shaky. No one's watching you. Everyone's thrashing everyone on the other side. And then you sort of sneak through to the knockouts. And then you win a game here. You win a game there.

you win another game. Next thing you know you've won the finals. I'll argue with you because I think one of the truths about any tournament is the team that wins the tournament has to pick at the right time. Yeah, you do. So you can't pick early. Yeah, you completely want to pick them. Because then it's the thing you're saying, you pick too early and then there's a target on your back. But everyone is watching out.

So you have to almost like pace yourself, so to speak. But I think for the U.S. as the hosts and coming in with the problems they had, like because there was so much external noise surrounding the team. Yeah. fans are not invested. There's the political ramifications. There's all this drama. That like shut all that down. Let me tell you something.

The fans were invested. SoFi Stadium was electric. No, no, but I mean like... From the national anthem, like... You know, that's when you know your team's having a good day. From the national anthem, people were like, this might be the best national anthem I've ever heard in my life. And then the team came out and they were like,

this could be the best U.S. perform. This could be the best goal. This could be the best. And then Travella to top it off. That was the few better ways. That was basically because Americans also love a great ending. So if you're winning three nil, but you are up three by the 60th minute, then they're like, yeah, but the last means, that was a dramatic way to send everyone home.

But I'm saying the reason I say fans are invested now, there are people who didn't care about football. That's true. Because they're hardcore fans were already there. But there are people who didn't care. But we've been in America long enough to know that Americans only care about winners. They don't care what you do. They don't care. That's why you hear talks about like, you know, you know,

When you know when you hear Americans going, like, oh, this is a come, we'll have a comeback story. Well, it doesn't matter what you do. If you can come back, if you can win, America is a country that's built on second acts. Yeah, Rocky. Yes. So long as you come back and win.

And so for me, there are people who are not engaged with the game, but when they saw America beating another country by four goals, they're like, yeah, we're in. We are dominating. That's what America loves. The only thing I think people love more than a comeback story is mocking the favorite when they don't perform. Like if you look at

some of the countries who were meant to win one that springs to mind, Turkey Air, playing against Australia. Yeah. Their, Balogun, one of their players, he gave an interview before the game where they're asking him, how do you think it's going to, he was like, we're going to dominate them. He was like, we sound a little

bit like we're Mbanyama. We're like, ah man, we're going to dominate them, you know, we're going to, this is what we do, we got this game. Did you see there was a clip of Ada Gouler, one of the attacking players. Remed a player. Yeah. Yeah, from Turkey in the, in the, what he called, in the tunnel, right before they come out onto the pitch. And it's just him talking to his teammates. To his teammates.

And he shouts out, he's like, guys, we're way better than them. Let's prove it on the field. And then you cut to 90 minutes later and they're losing 2-0, not even 2-1, by the way, 2-0 to the soccer ruse. Which, can I just add, like, if you call your team the soccer ruse, I feel like you've trolled everyone you play against. because it seems like you don't take it seriously. It's like it's so funny that we never mocked the Australians for that because we mock Americans for calling it soccer. And even America went like, no, we'll not call our team the soccer rules.

The soccer ruse is... Imagine that. Who beat you? The socaroos did this to you. Don't forget about it, Mike. The socceroos did this to you. It sounds like a made-up. Yes, it sounds like if an American was writing a script,

it really does. For a soccer like movie or a soccer series and they go like, oh, our team is a soccer rose. I think it was a terrible devastating result for Turkey or Turkey as we've called it these days because I think they're a very passionate people when it comes to soccer. If you've watched like European games and we've seen like the fans of Garatasarai

of Fenerbashi or six stars, a very like basketball is big in Turkey but football by far is like the national religion. And for you to lose to a country where football is not even anywhere near the top for sports Because remember in Australia, it's cricket, it's rugby, it's Australian rules football. Then soccer.

And for you to lose to that team, I think... Maybe even swimming comes before it. Yes, yeah, exactly. I think it was a crashing, crushing. I don't think anyone in Turkey or anyone back in Istanbul expected that result. I certainly didn't expect it. You didn't expect that at all? I didn't expect Australia to even compete.

I don't know why people say that. Okay, maybe I have a different perspective on Australia. When I've watched them play their games in previous World Cups or when I've watched them in major tournaments. The Australians seem to work hard. They work together and they've never seemed like a walkover. So I don't understand why people were shocked. So they're very Australian team because Australians buy maker. These people built a country out of a penal colony. Like they work hard. But I'm saying Turkey has some of the brightest talents in world football right now. Yeah, but okay, you know what? You know what I've noticed has changed in world football though? And I mean, you maybe you'll disagree

with me on this because you know the game better than I do. But like, I feel like, I feel like, the low block has changed football forever. So I feel like, you know, back in the day, a team and its likelihood of success, in my opinion, was determined by each player and their matchup in that position. Okay, yes. One-on-one. So it was like one-on-one. You've got a very strong winger. You're going to beat my left back or right back.

You've got a very strong striker. They're going to beat my center back. You've got a very strong midfielder. They'll beat mine, et cetera, et cetera. And then with the changing in how the game has been played over the past few, you know, years, let's say over the past like five-ish years, now I find a lot of teams are more willing to bring the whole team back to play the game and press and defend. Sort of what people are complaining that like Kiliin Mbapet doesn't do at Rome, Madrid, right? People were saying that Salad was forced to do this season for Liverpool, didn't do it before,

but that's what hurt the team. But it's like there are teams who've gone, oh yeah, we might not be as good as you, man for man, but two men for man changes the equation. And if you watch the Australia-Turkey game, there were swaths of the game where Australia had eight men in the box, in a straight line. Eight men and then it was like, you know, another two men just in front of them. And that was it. That was their formation in a way.

And all they were waiting for was the break. Japan, I could argue, was similar in some ways. They brought everybody back when Cody Gagpo from the Netherlands was trying to cut in. They just had their two men on him. the entire time. So it doesn't become like a one-on-one moments. It becomes a can-you-break-through-every-one moment. Morocco, I'd even argue, did that against Brazil.

You know, they frustrated Brazil. The one moment, Vinissi's got a chance to be one-on-one, he scored a goal. The rest of the game, we didn't hear from him. It's a very interesting, it's very interesting talk about the low block because it's supposed to do exactly that. It's supposed to make the team

better than the sum of its parts. Yeah, right. So again, as you're saying, if Turkey has Adaglia who plays for Madrid, and if Turkey has Kenan Yieldy's who plays for Juventus. And the Socceros have no one playing in any of the top leagues. Then their only option is to work as a team. And that's the funny thing about football. So football used to be a team game that had individual battles.

The thing you said about... Okay, soccer used to be a team game that had individual battles. Yes. So it was a team game, but then there were people like going one-on-one. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So we made it more like a tennis or boxing match. But now coaches are realizing, oh, this is a way for us to notify a player like mercy, we can't leave him one-on-one.

Because he's going to beat his mind every time. For us to notify a player like me and Yamal, we can't leave him one-on-one. What do you have to do? You have to double. And I think they're taking that fun enough from games like basketball. They have. I think soccer has taken a lot from basketball over the years. Like we've seen the pick and roll come into the game.

Yes, yes. We've seen screens come into the game. I mean, Arsenal dominates. the whole season, basically playing set pieces like it was basketball. You've seen that switch come over where now teams have also realized that fitness isn't a talent. Yes. You know, you might pay a lot of money for a talented player, but fitness is something

that everyone can just work on. And so if you have a fitter team than the other team, you just make them run, you make them recycle the ball, you get behind the ball. It's a frustrating. That Brazil versus Morocco game, you could tell that Brazil, A, was struggling with the fact that this is not their best team. But B, they were frustrated by the fact that they just weren't getting chances to play. And by the way, we have to talk about the Moroccan midfielder.

Oh, are you Bwadi? Man. Yeah. Yo, he's 18. And that Moroccan team is very young. But I'm saying, I love coaches who can trust a player at that age against Brazil. because also you need the coach's faith. And not just again, Brazil.

Look who he's playing in that midfield. He was playing against Casamiro, Lucas Paceta. Lucas Paceta and Bruno Gimerice and then switched out to Fabino. At half time. At half time, they switched out to, and he still dominated them. Bossed the game. An 18-year-old. It was impressive.

Who 30 days before was the captain for the French. No, that's, yeah, I think it speaks to Morocco's assent or rise in world football that they can actually now lure tyrants away from bigger countries. I disagree. I disagree.

Why? Give me a reason. Because I think I think African teams have struggled before. Yeah, but I disagree. I don't think it's the standing. I think the quality of football

has risen so much all over the world that now there's a saturation in teams. So if you look at, let's just look at leagues, right? Leagues. Like the Premier League is better than it's ever been. Yes. Okay. Yes.

The Spanish league has continuously pumped out some of the most talented players. Okay. Right. And then you look at like the German league. Yo, they're like slowly coming. Like you look at Levikuzen who wasn't like a name a few years ago in that way, but now are challenging for titles and winning titles. You still have Dortmund.

You still have Bayern. You know, you go to like the Dutch league where the teams, Portuguese, all the teams, when Boro Glimt is now in the Champions League. Yes, yes. In the knockout. Actually playing. I think it changed. how many players they are.

Now, when that happens, I think you find yourself in a situation where national teams are so saturated that as a player, you now risk being number four in a pecking order. So if you look at Ayubuadi, yeah, he's phenomenal. But what did we say? He was the captain of the youth French team a month ago, right? If he wants to get into the French squad and take a starting position, he has to come in ahead of Adrian Rabio or he has to take Zaire Emery's position and Emery himself comes off the bench or he has to take who else is in that midfield?

Chauamenis position. He has to take. Kamavina didn't even get on the plane. Think about that now. So now I think what's actually happened is players have gone. I'm not going to risk my whole career, my international career, sitting out, hoping to play for a big team or a big country. country.

When I can go and play for immediately. Yes. Another country that I'm eligible for. But the thing is where I say, why I talk about the assent is in the past, so I play like Zidan. Yeah. A player like Zidane couldn't play for Algeria because Algeria wouldn't make it to the World Cup.

If that makes sense. So now players go like, oh, I can go for Morocco because Morocco is good enough to get me to the World Cup. So if Morocco, if chicken and the egg, though, no. If Morocco couldn't make it to the World Cup, Brahim Diers would never have declared for them. He would have got, like, I'll wait and wait for Spain. I hear what you're saying. So I feel like because they know, also it's not just getting there,

because Morocco is not Kurosau, Morocco is not Uzbekistan, Morocco is not Haiti. They're going like, oh, we're going with a team that's going to compete actually. Yeah, but no, but Joe, this is why I disagree with you. I feel like it's chicken and the egg here. The reason they compete is because those players are they. So the reason Morocco did so well is partly because Because Hakemi is there. The reason they...

So it's like, if they're not there, the team doesn't do well. Yes. So they have to make the decision to go and help the team do well. I argue it's because they're looking at their prospects. Okay, because if Hakemi didn't play... Hakeem would have played for Spain. You think he would have played for Spain. I don't think you would have played as quickly as he did.

But you see, that's the point. Because Kaba Har would have kept him out. But that's the point. But still, I think he was good enough. But that's the point. And you know, when you are a player who isn't necessarily seen as of the country, it's also risky. Yes, yes, yeah.

Because at some point they might say, oh, but where's the Spanish right back? Yes, it is, it is. There's always an option for that. Yes, it is, right? It is. But I'm thinking the fact that they can convince players now, again, as you say,

when you're the captain of the under 18 team of France, you're on the first track, basically, to get into the French team. Adrian Rabio is not going to play the next World Cup. That's true. He's playing now. Many of the players who are blocking Ayububu Bwadi are not going to be blocking him two years from now,

at the euros. Same thing happened with Lamin. Lamin could have declared for Morocco, but he went like, I'm going to declare for Spain. But if Morocco tried to convince him, but sometimes it's almost like signing a player for a club, you have to convince them over the project. That's true. That's what the US

did with Balagon. So if Morocco comes to Ayubu Yadu and they go like, hey, we're not only want you to play for our team, but we're going to be hosting the World Cup for years from now. And this is what we have in, you know, and we've reached the semifinals. Yeah, yeah, that makes sense. It's more, that's what the European

teams used to do. They would just go like, no, you come to us you're going to go to the World Cup. You're guaranteed to go to the World Cup. If John Burns, who was our guest, if Jamaica was good enough back then, as he told you, he played for England when he had a Jamaican passport. But Jamaica was never, and if you read John Burns' story,

he wasn't even going to play for England. He was just waiting for any team from the United Kingdom. Scotland had come to him. He would have played for them. Yeah, because he wanted to go to the World Cup, and Jamaica was never going to go to the World Cup. Yeah. But it's an interesting thought. It has become the World Cup of switched allegiances.

Yes. Because everyone, if we go down the running order, like opening game, opening goal for Mexico. Quinones. Scored by Quinones. And he is from Colombia. He should be playing for Colombia. But he declared for Mexico. He lived there since he was like 17.

His family's there. His kids are there. He's like, yo, Mexico is my home. Yes. And so here he is as this player. The US, obviously, Palagon. born in the US. His story is amazing because he was born here.

And if you can believe everything that it's basically, he was just born here because his mom wasn't allowed to fly out. Yes. Oh, because America, again, because America has birth rights. Birth rights citizenship. Yeah. The moment he was born here. And then that was it.

I don't even think he like lived his life here. But here he is carrying America's dreams now in attack. You have, I'm trying to think of who else has done this. Australia had a bunch of players. Oh, yeah. No, Australia, definitely. Right. You had guys who came into Australia when they were teenagers, you know, went to university now.

I mean, like they're running the attack. You had, who else have we got? Morocco's team was interesting because they made history as I guess the first national team at a World Cup when none of the players were born in the country that they're representing. Yes, but that's the thing I'm saying about Morocco's project because they specifically went out to try and bring the standard back home. You know I was wondering this, though. Do you think it undermines the whole point of a World Cup if a player can just switch allegiances to another country at any point? Or is it, because there's two ways to think of it, right?

On the one hand, you can say the whole point of a World Cup is that it's not a competition about which team could get the best players. It's an exhibition of which teams or which national teams were made up of the players they happen to have. Yes, yes. Another argument is, no, the World Cup is just an exhibition of the team that a country could put together. And so whether or not a player is from that country shouldn't really matter. How do you, which way do you lean?

The way I look at it is, so you said a player can switch, but FIFA is very strict. Okay. Once you play in a competitive game for a country, it's done. Are you sure? It's done. Oh, no, what happened with a... If you play friendlies. Wait, wait, wait, wait, what happened with...

I feel like he was your boy, man. He played at Barcelona. Leporte, wasn't he on the French team and then Spanish team? He never played a competitive game. He played in a bunch of friendlies. So you're allowed to be called up. Oh, okay. Actually, some countries have been accused of calling our players and then cap tying them.

So they call you up a competitive game. Then they know you can never. You're lying. Yes, when they see a good enough player. Because they know, because now you have. Oh, damn. But that's messed up then. So you can play in the under.

actually the French, and I think Americans are so complaining about it, because they have so many, so the French have so many players who are born in France who come through the youth system, but then when it's time to declare, they go play for Ivory Coast or Senegal. And in French are like, oh, so we're just developing players for other countries. Same thing with America. America is. My friend, a friend, which they should be.

Yes. If the French, yo, the French are going to say we're developing money, yes. What a nice change, France. France completely. Now you're developing Africa. America's going to change. About the same thing because not the best player, but one of the key players for Mexico now is Brian Guittere's,

who helped get the red card. He plays in the hole. But he played for America. He played for the US through the underage system. Then when it came time for the senior team, he went like, yeah, I want to play for my dad's country. And he crossed over to Mexico. So FIFA is very strict.

I think FIFA should even change it. I think you should just be able to play for any country. where you've held a citizenship. No, but that's very easy to get around because you know what happens? The country just expedites the papers. That's what they do. Yeah, but I mean, if the country wants to do that,

they should do that. No, the countries always do that. I don't think... That's what I'm saying is happening now. So if Esmea, kid from Bosnia, who grew up in America, he grew up in America, played through, then he went and now, want to play for...

He could have made the American team, actually. He's that talented. They call him the Bosnia and Lamin Yamal. He's very talented. Damn, that's a strong company. She's really, really good. That's a strong compliment. Remember when you're kid of immigrants, your dad is pumping.

It's almost like your dad is pumping you with propaganda about the old country. He's like brainwashing you from when you're this little. And also mostly normally, if you're a kid of immigrants, your dad and his entire extended family are still well. They're still home. They're still back home. So if you play for the U.S., if you're a Mexican kid or if you're a kid of Mexican immigrants and you play for the U.S., it doesn't give.

your dad the same. No, it doesn't. Like, you know, the same bragging rights as it would if you go back. It doesn't. No should it. Yeah. So many people, many kids, and I think that it's great. Yeah, it's a great.

You would want your kid to play. If I had a kid in America, I would want him to play for Uganda. Because Americans don't care. But my friends back in Uganda would go like, oh, like, I would walk in and they would greet me like, like, like, that doesn't get the same cloud in Spain. No. I think. I think...

That he would get it back home. You think about it. Okay, yeah, yeah. In Spain versus back home. Yeah, back home. But he's a weird one. He's a bit of a celebrity though. No, no, he is.

He's an outlier for that argument, I think. Yes, but I'm saying, you imagine if your kid was holding Morocco on his back, on his back. If he was leading Morocco, yeah, no, that's true. You go back home and you, he would, he would be, okay, here's how I'll put it. If Lamine's dad, if Lamine was playing for Morocco, Lamine's dad would have the number of the Moroccan king on speed dive. He doesn't have the number of the Spanish king. If that makes sense, if your kid is that good,

in your home country, because they see you as... Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, no, they do. That's the thing that drove Messi. Because Messi, Spain really reached out. He spent all his time in La Masia from 13. They really reached out, and they gave him a proposal. They went like, hey, you'll still be playing with Savi, you'll still be playing with... And Messi went like, no.

Argentina, though. Yes, because he... Yeah, but he had a legacy that he could look at. look forward to upholding. I'm more impressed by the people who make that decision, the messy decision for the non-legacy. So I'm more impressed by a player who chooses to play for Morocco, who chooses to play for Curacao, who chooses to play for Haiti,

who chooses to play for, I'm more impressed by those players because they don't have a legacy to look back to. They don't have a- legacy by the countries. Yeah, because Messi can see a future where Argentina wins a World Cup with him. Does that make sense? Counterpoint. when Messi chooses Argentina over Spain

and then he has to watch Spain win the 2010 one lap. I hear you, but, but let's, even when they were at their worst, if we asked the average soccer fan in the world, the average football fan, do you think Argentina can win the World Cup? What would their answer be? They would say yes. Yeah, no, no, no. So that's what I'm saying.

I'm not saying they wouldn't go through a bad patch. Yes. But when you know something can be possible, do you know what I'm saying? Okay, but then the counterproproids. point is Messi retired before Argentina won the war. He was so frustrated with Argentina. But now he's made the decision. He's locked in. Yes. Maybe he regrets it at that point, but he's locked in. But I'm saying he retired. He had to unretire. But now you imagine you're Messi, you had a chance to play for Spain. You turned it down. You go back to Barcelona and you're

watching Chavi win the Euros, the World Cup and the Euros again. And in that period, you haven't won anything with Argentina. In fact, that must have been. Yes. You've lost three Cop Americas. You've lost at the World Cup, part of his going like, if I had only made the right decision, but the thing is he persisted and adventure. And he says it. He says, the World Cup I won with Argentina

means everything to me. If I had won it with Spain, it would not have meant the same. All right, let's take a quick break to thank our sponsor for today's episode. That's Verizon. Now, we all know the FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest events

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And why? Like, let's start with Brazil. From, like, all my Brazil friends, all my Brazilian friends are not, like, they're not comfortable. In fact, I would argue they're the least comfortable I've ever seen them at a World Cup. Yes, but that's because Brazil always has a high bar. No, no, no, Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe, wait, wait, wait, but Joe. Brazil always has a high bar Yes

You know what Brazil also always has Great players A world class squad Not just great players Now they have great players But they've got a weird roster of great players Their team looks like a mix of

The legends And the youth You've got a team with Endric and Casamiro You know what I mean You've got a team with Fabino and Rafinia You've got a team

Like I genuinely when I watch the team I can't tell what the team Is going to be like Because it doesn't make sense To me holistically It's a weird make Yeah, like I go, I don't see how Casamiro can play with the other kids on the team. I don't see how, like, it's a strange one.

You did say you wouldn't know as a coach what style to adopt. I wouldn't know. If I was setting the tactics for that team, I go, do we run fast? You can't because Casamiro doesn't have the legs. Do we play physical and fight for everything? Do we play slow? But like I go to Diego, I still say, I said to you in the first episode of the podcast, and I'm going to say it to you now after the first game,

why is Zhao Pedro not here? And I know people are going to keep telling me stories. No, I'll tell... My suspicion is... Amen. My suspicion is... Kalan Kiori had to choose because also you're picking profiles, right?

And you don't want competing profiles. You want players who give you different things because at some point you might need different things. Okay. So I think Karan Kajosu looked at Yao Pedro and he said, Yao Pedro gives me almost the same thing that Matthias Kunya gives me. Now I have to peek.

I have to peek. I can see that. Okay, no, no, no, I can concede that. So is that thing like, I hear what you mean. Yes. I hear what you mean. Yes. Should I have two players who give me the same thing? Okay, yeah.

Or should I have both good at holding up the ball, both drugglers, both with channels, both with channels. No, no, I can see that. I just think Jean-Pedro is a little more attack-minded. Yes. In that way, I'd not, like, if I was playing Cunia, I'm playing him slightly behind a striker. If I'm playing Joe Pedro, I can play him as a striker, but it's going to be a... But then the thing is, if you have to choose between, let's say,

Kunya and he got Tiago, they give him. different things. The reason I'm saying Brazil should be worried is the same reason I would say if Barcelona lost a game and they didn't dominate it because of the high standard. So Brazil doesn't just have to win. They have to win playing well. That's true. They can't play terrible football.

Many other teams go, German Germans will go like so long as we win. The English will go like so long as we win. The Dutch and Brazilians. Yeah, they got to play beautiful football. They go like, we don't. care if you're winning. If you're not winning pretty, we're not happy. Speaking of the English, I feel like you and Mother Nature don't like the English. I look. Yo, can we, can we just talk? Let's just break this down. Let's just break this down.

The England team in the space of four days had their kit stolen. Yes. Right? Their training kits all stolen. I think the police eventually recovered most of it or all of it. I think I think the clan race's shirt was left behind. even the thieves are like we're not putting this on no the England England had the kids stolen there was like a shooting near the near the grounds like you know which just became

part of the news then there was a tornado warning that was issued and so the players had to stay indoors and it was like a violent storm in Kansas you know people were like this is this is basically the beginning of the Wizard of Oz that's what it sounded like and then on top of that there's one other thing

that went badly for them I'm missing something. There was the kit. It's the tornado watch. Was it the bus? Something with the bus. There's something else that happened. England, though, is just...

This is either like a foreshadowing or it's the trials that come before the tribulation. Look, I think England had the toughest group. England have the toughest group. Yeah, that's what I believe. Who do they have in the group? They're playing Ghana. They're playing Croatia.

Croatia. And they're playing Panama. But they're playing Panama last. So if they lose their first opening games, they're out almost. Because you would want to start with Panama, maybe get three points on the board. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Then you can relax. Yeah, get confident.

But their first two games are so tough. Maybe not tough. They're so tricky. Anything could happen. Anything could happen. If Ghana turns up, if Croatia turns up, Croatia has had Ingram's number for some time. Yeah. So for me, I think, look, when you think, for me, when you tell me they've had all these disasters,

part of me just goes like, well, these are the chickens coming home to roast because of colonialism. When you talk about their kids being stolen, I'm like, no, that's reparations being taken back. But look, it's almost hard to, because of what they did, I'm like, yeah, you know, this is the English getting their camerpence. I think this is just the English getting a moment of testing before they receive their reward. Mark my words, you remember these conversations. The English you're going to do way better than you think. I think the English are going to do way better than you think. I think there is make a deep run.

I think way, way, way, way better than you think. I think he's going to end in a spectacular collapse. Oh, I wrote down a few things. I wanted to make sure we get to. Who do you think's got the best player story so far at the World Cup? Without a doubt, Raul Jimenez, for me. Not, are you Boudi? Not at all.

Raul Jimenez shouldn't be playing football. What do you mean? He should be playing football. Remember he got a fracture? with his, when he had a collision with the keeper. Okay, yes. And then he fractured his head, eight months out. They had to do like things with, he wore a, a scout cap, yeah.

Oh, yeah, he wore the scalp cap. Yeah, he shouldn't be playing football. He was not supposed to be playing football. And then he scored his first goal for the World Cup. Man, he was crying. He was in tears. So for me, that's the most heartwarming story because it shows you the redemptive power of sports. It really does.

Yes. Best goalkeeper moment. For me, I'm going to. to pick Japan's goalkeeper Suzuki. I know they conceded two goals

against the Dutch but I think he was phenomenal They were unstoppable You can't blame him for either By the way he had a tough time He's also like another

Not as big as Raoul Jimenez But his story is redemptive Because he had a tough tough Asian Cup When he first His debut in a big tournament He was criticized

He had a tough time And everyone was going Like oh he shouldn't be playing for Japan And all this And you know He And then he

And then he had a wrist injured at some point. Oh, damn. And then he has bounced back. But it was the top for me. It was a baptism of fire when he first started in his big tournament for Japan. Yeah. Many other keepers could have been broken. Because if the whole, it's a different thing when you're playing for a club.

Because then it's just your club fans on top of you. Yeah. But when the entire country is questioning your inclusion in the team and you're a black player in Japan. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you still have the character to come back from that and play the way you played. I think that's a beautiful story. It was phenomenal. Best celebration.

I mean, for me easily, Quinonez from Mexico. To do the South African celebration from 2010 when they scored against Mexico. He wasn't even there. But not just to do it, to do it perfectly. But now, let me ask, do you think, was it trolling or was he celebrating?

C.P. Washabarara. No, I think he's trolling. Obviously, he's trolling. You don't think he's celebrating? Because that was an iconic. It was an iconic. Yeah, yeah, yeah, but he's doing it against the same team that scored against them. And he also scored the opening goal.

And I think it's because they think of the stories and the videos and everyone kept on playing that over and over again. And it was this idea that's haunting Mexico. Oh, here comes South Africa again. And remember the goal they scored against you and it was this whole thing. But what I was impressed by was the fact that for him to practice the dance means he believed. You need to know that you're going to score. Yes. Yeah, he believed.

But he's black. I'll give it to him. I would call it. You know what? I'll say he remixed. I'll say he remixed Chambana last celebration. He just knew it. Yes.

It was in his bones. He has the rhythm. Come on. That's funny, man. The thing you just said, he did it perfectly. That's hilarious. And it's so funny because no other Mexican player joined him. Like, because they didn't have the moves.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's black. I'll give it to him. Come on. No, man, he did it. I know this is a World Cup podcast, but I feel like part of the World Cup. Like a storyline that's been adopted into the World Cup just because of where we are has been the New York Knicks. I know this sounds weird

but it felt like one of the World Cup games Yes It just felt like it part of the euphoria Because you had New York City packed Packed packed Packed with Moroccan fans

Packed with Brazilian fans And packed with New York Knicks fans The funny thing about that is Brazil played Morocco All three believing that they were going to win And all of them very passionate And all of them dominating every space Truly

They come into The funny thing about that is I don't come from a basketball country. But the thing is when you're in New York and New York is winning, it's very infectious. It's crazy, man. It's beautiful. The energy in New York is, as you said, people are friendlier, everyone, it just feels.

And so when Brazil was playing Morocco, which is supposed to be a huge, big game, it felt like a curtain razor for the next game later that night. It actually did. Yes. It literally did feel like that. Yeah.

And I think in many ways, it also felt like a curtain razor for the specter of of like triumph in the face of everyone saying it was impossible. I know Morocco didn't win. Yes. The way they played,

they played Brazil of the park. I mean, they outplayed Brazil. It didn't feel like, by the way, I was surprised that Vinissius got man of the match. Yes, it would have been a job. I was really surprised by that. But I think also, I feel like when you score a goal,

normally that. Yeah, they give you like a little rating boost. No, I feel like, I mean, if you like, are you, Bwadi, will be appreciated by the purists. Okay. It's a lot harder to appreciate. 16 of 16 passes completed in the attacking third except, oh, you're on the taking half, the take-ons. The way turned under pressure, purists love that side. But when you're doing like a poll, when you're choosing the man of the match, normally it's a popular choice.

You have to either have scored or assisted. Yeah. Because people look at those stats. They don't look at the intangibles that actually... So that's why... I guess Brunson, then he was always going to win. If he scored, Ojiano Nobine, some people would argue had better impact or had more impact on the Knicks winning. I mean, especially in game four.

I don't know. I'm not even going to claim to no basketball like that. But it felt like one of the most like balanced teams. Yes. And what I mean by that is it felt like you didn't know how the house was going to be built, but every player was bringing a certain amount of bricks. Yes. But Oji and Nobibing, is.

you say. No, he was, he was, he was phenomenal. A lot of the time. He didn't miss his shots. But remember in game four, remember his play. Everyone remembers, everyone remembers they put back. What people don't remember is that when the iron fox got that turnover and rushed through and he went for the layup, who went with him, who blocked him without actually

fouling? It was Ojanobie. Yeah, but then again, like, Hart has had some of the most amazing performances. He, like, his steals, his blocks. But then he also blew the lay up in that game. But did you see his face? Yes. Can I tell you something?

He had a mirror down. One thing I... He saw his life flashed before his eyes. One thing I appreciate in all sports is the feeling a player gets when they, when they, when it looks like they've thrown it all away. Yes. Hart is one of the smartest. Yes. Most diligent workers on a team.

Yes. When he missed that layup in game five to take the lead for the Knicks against the Spurs. You could see. see he was going, I've thrown it all away. Do you know what I think has happened these days as well? Yeah. When a player does that, they see, in their minds, because players are so online

You think they see the memes. Yeah, they're going to become a meme now. They see the memes. Yes. It's like this is it, this is going to do. Did you see Larry David's reaction, by the way? To what? When heart blew the lay up. It was like straight out of cab. I didn't see it. He like, he almost collapsed. You almost see it.

It's so funny. He almost died. Like Larry David was this close. Like if you see, because he expects and then, and then you see him just like, people are to hold him up. That's how shocked he was. But I'm saying that every nick contributed, even the players off the bench. Yeah, no, no, no. The Knicks were. But for me, Anobi's influence on that game.

Remember Anonobi actually is also the one who threw the inbound pass. He did. And then he ran all the way. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The heart and the desire at that time in the game. It wasn't the beginning moments. This was towards the end of the game. You've been running back and forth.

the heart and desire for you to run and get that put back and actually put it back in his people are debating him and who is the finals MVP because also I knowby really good. I think he averaged around 22 points. Branson average 24 but remember Branson takes

double the shots that and Nobi gets. But I think Branson, when he scores 42 in a decider, you can't look past him. Well man, you know what I also can't look past New York City itself? You know, people always say as a platitude, oh New York the greatest city in the world, New York I don't know many cities in the world

where you could have a game five of a historic NBA championship also have a World Cup match between Brazil and Morocco have all of that happening at the same time as like a Puerto Rican Day parade have all of that happening streets packed people you know some people

were just going out for dinner that night as well New York is that or respect yeah some people in New York didn't even know all these other things were happening the city is chaos people are in the street cheering, climbing on top of things. Some people are breaking things, you name it. And the next morning, the city's still there. Like, it never happened.

I genuinely was like, yo, nothing. New York used to have, I don't know if you were ever around in New York, around Hurricane Sandy. Oh, no, I missed it. They had like the song that they put on and was like, We are stronger than the storm. And they're like, we're stronger than the storm. And I remember watching them.

I was like, no, guys, come on. when you're stronger than this. Yo, seeing New York. And I was like, okay, no, New York is, New York is, like, it's impenetrable. It doesn't matter what it is. No, there were people complaining, because people complained, going like,

why would FIFA schedule their game? Because we're going to call the NBA playoff schedule. We knew. But why would FIFA? Because they were going like such a logistical nightmare for the city hosting, like, all these. And New York, but also remember, New York is so resilient. New York is a city that,

it bounced back after 9-11. You know. Many other cities would never. No, New York, yo, New York. New York is shown, like New York, now I'm excited for the final. Because I want to see, I want to see what a New York final is going to be. But we're still, we're still ways away from a final. But you know what New Jersey people are saying.

What are they saying? It's not happening in New York. I don't know why New York keeps claiming that's New York. It's in Jersey. The MetLife is in Jersey. I mean, where the game is played and where the fans are, totally different things. Because fans are like, no, we don't want to spend our time.

Yeah, I mean, you know, New Jersey. They're like people from New Jersey. New Jersey can say what it wants, but it's like, like, what is it? New Jersey is the liminal space of this World Cup. I mean, like, you know what I mean? They can say what they want, but like, let's ask the fans. I'm willing to bet money. If you go to any fan who went to any of these games or is going to any of the games,

ask them where they were. I'll give you $10 for every person who says they were in New Jersey. No, even people in New Jersey don't want to stay in New Jersey. I had a friend. If we're not careful, we're going to be as hated by women yama, but in New Jersey only. I had a friend, invite me back to New Jersey. He had a partner and he told me to, he invited me to New Jersey. And I went like, sorry, but I can't make.

make it because if I came to your party in New Jersey, even Ugandaners would go like, dude, you'd rather just come back to Uganda. Why would you go to New Jersey? Why would you leave Uganda and go to New Jersey? But the thing is the thing I understand about New York, and sports fans love this. They love, we love underdog stories, right? We love Morocco making a run. But the thing that New York taught me, and sometimes we take it for granted, is sometimes it's

good for the sport for a big team with a big passionate base with big fans to win. Because what New York has done... Sometimes always, I argue. No, but sometimes you like Greece winning 2004. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But I'm saying like the publicity and the contagious energy around New York. You know, the celebrities turning up. Sometimes the sport needs that.

Sometimes, let me put it like this. Sometimes David needs to hoop. Goliath needs to whip. Needs to whip David's ass. Yes, sometimes. Yeah, but I argue this wasn't... I don't think that this was Goliath beating David. I think it's the other way around.

Okay. Let's go with this. Sometimes the fans of David, like they get to such a point. Like, David's fans get so big that David needs to win the fight. Because I argue that the Knicks weren't Goliath in this fight. No, no, no, but when you look at the way basketball. No, I know what you mean. But like, big market teams and small market teams.

So San Antonio. For me, I'm like, nah, the Knicks would like, yo, people said, people said, whoever wins the game between OKC and Spurs is going on to win this thing. Yes. Right? But what I'm saying is when you look at the teams, when they talk about, so when they talk about big market teams. I hear you.

Yeah, but they were small. They were like a small team in a big market. And now they become the biggest team in the biggest markets. No, because the thing is the amount of hype. Because we've seen Ocasey win. We've seen Denver Nuggets win. We've seen the Milwaukee Bucks win. We never saw this kind of hype.

Because I'll tell you this. Taylor Swift. Say what you read about her. She's not going to Wisconsin to watch the Barks. She's not going to Oklahoma City to watch however good they are. She's not going to watch the thunder. She's not going to Denver to watch the nuggets. Yeah, but to be fair to her, she's also like lived in New York.

So people were also making it like she's just pop out of nowhere. I understand where they were coming from. Because I can imagine if you were a Knicks fan, even if you were a celebrity, like if you were a celebrity who is below Taylor Swift, which is almost all celebrities, and you couldn't get into that game. And then you see Taylor Swift dancing up there with her friends. And you're like, which other games, where was she when the Knicks was blowing leaves? You know what I mean?

Year after year. Where was, I can see what? why people were angry, but at least. No, no, but for me, it's not just her. Timothy Sharman, currently the biggest movie star in the world. Yeah, but Timothy, yo, yo, no, I mean he's a fan of the Nix. Yo, fan is an understatement. Yes.

Yo. But I'm saying a small market team like, OK, see, doesn't have a Timothy Sharman. Oh, okay, yeah, I'm with you. I'm with you. I'm with you. I'm with you. So, Timothy Sharman helps the sport go from the back pages to pop culture. Yeah, that's true.

Terra Swift. Okay, I see what you're saying then. You're saying it's good for the sport. You need Jack Nicholson. You need Jack Nicholson. moments that pop it into pop. I argue that's what Team USA did. So for me, the biggest reason I was happy for Team USA to win

is because the stadium had Tom Cruise, David Beckham, They're Not a DiCaprio, Justin Bieber, Haley Bieber, I Show Speed, Draymond Green. Like, because of that, I was happy for America, for Americans, for the sport, for the global spectacle of it all. So that it also didn't become like a side show. Yes. I don't want people to come and be like, is this the soccer you guys are talking

about it was like, oh, this thing is real and we have a real team and we have a real moment. That's what I enjoyed about it. So for me, that's why I say you always need in a way the big, and I know sports fans don't like it, but it's almost like if you want sport to grow and if you want

to transcend sports, because you know, a sport doesn't grow with just the diehard fans. Right, right, right. If you want it to go mainstream, you want it to cross over from the back pages to TMZ. You want to see U.S. you want to see police. And all those guys being like

harassed by the TMZ reporter. You know what I'm just thinking of now. Essentially this is what you're saying. In order for David's victory to be to mean something over Goliath, we need Goliath to be Goliath. Fundamentally, that's what you're saying. Because if Goliath doesn't become Goliath

then David just hit some random doodoo the stone in the middle of his head and it's not a story. So we need Goliaths to be made so that the Davids can fell them. I like how you went. It's the same with Brazil. If you don't have that. If David, if David hits some random dude.

Yeah, if David just did some random dude with a stone, it's like, right, do you hear what David did? He didn't be a proverb, yes. Yeah, he hit another guy with a stone. Man, that guy needs to put that slingshot away, man. He just, yes. He's a, he's nothing licensed. He needs to hit Goliath.

Yeah, you got to hit that. But for Goliath to be a thing, Goliath has to be Goliath. Yes, you know what I mean? The reigning champion of the world. Which games are you most excited for this week? I'm excited for the one we're going to cover, first of all, tomorrow. No, the one we're going to cover,

France Senegal. I love that game. That game has a history. That's big. France had won the World Cup in 1998. Senegal shocks them and that set the tone because France didn't make it out of the group. Even with Zadan, yes and injured Zadan, but it still didn't make it out. And that by the kick-started this trend where whichever team had won the World Cup before didn't make it to the next World Cup. So France didn't make it to the next World Cup.

And so for me, this game has lots of history. It has lots of coronial history as well. Because Senegal and France, of course, they have their colonial ties. And I think Senegal is a good team. I think Senegal is good enough with Sadio Mani and all their... Right. He's supporting us. They're such a good team that they will give France a game.

Because France are the favorites to win the World Cup. But this is going to be their first huge, huge test. Because they lost their last game against Iber Coast. Yep, which was a massive moment. Yes, which also had like the coronial history. Yeah, yeah, massive moments. this is going to be a good taste of where France are. I don't want to call them scandals, but the stories around the game.

You know, there's been like a few of them. One, we've seen all of these press conferences where reporters are trying to speak to the players in Spanish. Yes. The players are trying to respond in Spanish. And then the FIFA representatives are saying, no, you only speak in English. But the irony of it is they're saying you can only speak in English because that's the only language it can be translated from. So it seems like they just didn't account for the fact that many of the players only speak. speak Spanish.

Yes. It's one of the most spoken languages in football, specifically. But I think FIFA likes encouraging English as a standard language because... Yeah, there's a difference between encouraging and dictating. But what's FIFA if not a dictatorship? FIFA is not a democracy. I'll tell you that. FIFA is not a democracy.

They've been... I think FIFA... Look... The other thing has been like all the players, the Senegalese fans, like, do you think it'll affect the team, them not having their fans there? I think you need your fans but I also think when you're playing at a World Cup if you need extra motivation

then you shouldn't be at the World Cup just being at the World Cup it's almost like asking someone should your wedding have like cheer leaders no if you're getting married you should want to get married if you want extras to get married

then maybe you shouldn't be getting married No no no right if none of your family come to your wedding you might start to doubt whether or not you should be having that wedding there's just going to be moments you're leaving your family though there's just going to be moments

when you're standing up there and then everyone cheers for your bride and then nobody cheers for you and you're going to be like, should I be here? Do I deserve to be here in this moment? You always need your supporters, but. Look at the Scottish fans. I argue they willed the ball into the net

in that game. They like sucked it in. They turned every city they go to. Even Japan, the Japanese fans, I think, are part of the reason that like they, they didn't get tense against the Netherlands. They carried on singing. They carried on drumming away.

I think it's part of the reason. As always, Joe, this has been a pleasure, my friend. No, man. time we have talk soccer, you know me. We could talk for hours, by the way. And we will. We have many more hours coming. We have many more.

But let's save it. Let's save it for then. For now, for now, my friend, it's full time. I'll see you the next one. It's always fun. It's always a pleasure. This was fun. Thank you again so much to the sponsor of today's episode, Verizon.

They've given their customers unmatched access to the FIFA World Cup 2026, including thousands of free tickets, people, Meet and greets with soccer legends and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch a portion of the FIFA World Cup from the pitch, from the pitch, all just for being a Verizon customer. If you're not with Verizon, no sweat. Stop by a Verizon store to get in on the action and learn about their amazing offers for new customers. What Now with Trevor Noah is produced by Day Zero Productions in partnership with Sirius XM. The show is executive produced by Trevor Noah, Sanaziamen, and Jess Hackle. Rebecca Chain is our producer. Our development researcher is Marcia Robiu.

Music, mixing and mastering by Hannes Brown. Random Other Stuff by Ryan Hardoof. Thank you so much for listening. Join me next week for another episode of What Now?