WEBVTT - BONUS: Let the World Cup Begin 0:00:06.519 --> 0:00:08.800 You guys, it started. 0:00:09.560 --> 0:00:13.160 The World Cup is officially on its way, and it 0:00:13.240 --> 0:00:25.720 kicked off in Mexico City at the Estadio Azteca, one 0:00:25.720 --> 0:00:29.639 of the most legendary soccer stadiums in the world and 0:00:29.760 --> 0:00:33.680 the heartbeat of Mexican football. But before we get to 0:00:33.720 --> 0:00:42.159 the soccer, there was the opening ceremony. Now, call me 0:00:42.240 --> 0:00:45.120 what you wish, but the first few minutes gave me 0:00:45.159 --> 0:00:48.720 a lot of feelings. People all over the world tuned 0:00:48.760 --> 0:00:52.920 in to watch what brings me so much pride. This 0:00:53.400 --> 0:00:56.040 is where I was born, where I spent my childhood, 0:00:56.320 --> 0:00:59.520 and where most of my family lives. And despite the 0:00:59.520 --> 0:01:03.320 fracture bones that make up the skeleton of Mexico, the 0:01:03.440 --> 0:01:06.720 country has so much rich culture to offer to the 0:01:06.760 --> 0:01:09.800 rest of the world, and a slice of it was 0:01:09.800 --> 0:01:14.720 on display during the opening ceremony. Performers in indigenous garb 0:01:14.880 --> 0:01:19.640 danced in the field, reminiscent of Aztec warriors. Gold and 0:01:19.720 --> 0:01:23.880 silver everywhere on the stands there were Mexico green jerseys 0:01:23.920 --> 0:01:27.279 as far as the eye can see. At the center 0:01:27.319 --> 0:01:29.880 of the pitch, the giant gold statue of the trophy 0:01:30.280 --> 0:01:32.959 looked like it was made of papel picado. You know, 0:01:33.080 --> 0:01:38.840 the traditional Mexican decoration of intricately cut paper. Mexican American 0:01:38.880 --> 0:01:42.600 singer Leela Downs appeared in her signature long braids with 0:01:42.720 --> 0:01:46.880 traditional ribbon weaved in her black hair. She spoke in English, 0:01:47.040 --> 0:01:52.320 Spanish and Misteca, an indigenous language people of the world. 0:01:52.800 --> 0:01:55.160 Welcome to Mexico, she said slowly. 0:01:56.040 --> 0:02:01.560 Then she said, Mexico receives you. This statement made me 0:02:01.640 --> 0:02:06.720 pause because Mexico, no matter its flaws, is a gracious host, 0:02:07.320 --> 0:02:10.640 a point that we can't take for granted anymore given 0:02:10.680 --> 0:02:14.720 the attitude of one of the other host nations. But 0:02:15.240 --> 0:02:18.520 let's not go there right now. Back to the ceremony, 0:02:21.080 --> 0:02:24.280 It was a medley of mostly Mexican and Latin American talent, 0:02:25.000 --> 0:02:29.040 one after the other in quick succession. There was Mana, 0:02:29.080 --> 0:02:32.120 which I would argue is the most famous rock band 0:02:32.160 --> 0:02:35.480 to come out of Mexico. Pop star Belinda made an 0:02:35.480 --> 0:02:37.840 appearance with legendary cumbia group. 0:02:37.680 --> 0:02:38.920 Los Angeles Azules. 0:02:40.080 --> 0:02:42.160 I really wish there had been a little more Cumbia, 0:02:42.280 --> 0:02:45.799 but I can't complain because we got to see Colombian 0:02:45.919 --> 0:02:46.760 reggae Dono J. 0:02:46.960 --> 0:02:47.360 Balvin. 0:02:47.840 --> 0:02:51.200 His dancers were wearing a very colorful variation of the 0:02:51.240 --> 0:02:56.440 Pachuco zut suits, and then Shaquitra finally took the stage 0:02:56.480 --> 0:02:57.400 with Berna Boy. 0:02:57.520 --> 0:03:01.240 To perform her what Is This Now? World Cup song? 0:03:02.040 --> 0:03:04.720 I like the song, but it's not Waka waka or 0:03:04.840 --> 0:03:06.240 La La, Sorry, Shack. 0:03:06.360 --> 0:03:07.280 I'm still a huge fan. 0:03:08.400 --> 0:03:11.720 The show ended with green, white and red fireworks to 0:03:11.880 --> 0:03:16.360 match Mexico's flag collars. I was watching on Telemundo at 0:03:16.400 --> 0:03:19.359 a local sports bar, and after the ceremony, they cut 0:03:19.400 --> 0:03:22.279 to a shot of the fan viewing party at Ilsocalo, 0:03:22.720 --> 0:03:25.600 which has the Presidential palace on one end of the plaza, 0:03:26.600 --> 0:03:29.440 and I'd like to imagine that in that moment in time, 0:03:29.840 --> 0:03:32.560 the people packed in the city center were not. 0:03:32.560 --> 0:03:35.360 Thinking about anything else, not about the. 0:03:35.320 --> 0:03:39.000 Corruption or the protest leading up to the games. All 0:03:39.040 --> 0:03:42.520 that could come back later in the night. At that moment, 0:03:43.080 --> 0:03:45.440 it was just about the World Cup. 0:03:46.560 --> 0:03:47.480 That's sort of how it. 0:03:47.440 --> 0:03:50.440 Felt when I watched, wearing my green jersey, surrounded by 0:03:50.440 --> 0:03:51.640 other Mexico. 0:03:51.240 --> 0:03:56.040 Fans as midemosillur nante Is with your inix Speede Kavlick. 0:03:56.400 --> 0:03:58.560 I used to go to their steka watch my tim 0:03:58.640 --> 0:04:02.880 Crusos replay. It's always emotional and I liked what they did, 0:04:02.880 --> 0:04:06.160 of course, celebrated in Mexico's history and a little bit 0:04:06.160 --> 0:04:08.120 of bringing everybody together. 0:04:08.560 --> 0:04:11.880 I thought that the open instrument was very call for 0:04:12.040 --> 0:04:16.280 incluri mana so a, Mexico soy sona, and you can 0:04:16.320 --> 0:04:18.960 always tell all that Mexican people are always very welcoming. 0:04:19.040 --> 0:04:20.640 It kind of shows on the on the TV what 0:04:20.680 --> 0:04:23.400 we're seeing right now. The hospitality for Mexican people is 0:04:23.400 --> 0:04:24.000 really amazing. 0:04:26.920 --> 0:04:30.440 After we watched the opening ceremony, we got eerily quiet 0:04:30.520 --> 0:04:33.640 when our national anthem played. At the inaugural game of 0:04:33.760 --> 0:04:38.360 Mexico versus South Africa, the Esteca was overflowing with more 0:04:38.360 --> 0:04:41.880 than eighty thousand fans who waited four years for this 0:04:41.960 --> 0:04:44.839 World Cup to start. It's also the first time in 0:04:45.160 --> 0:04:48.640 forty years that a World Cup is even played in Mexico, 0:04:49.600 --> 0:04:59.680 and throughout the match Mexico dominated. Mexico scored in the 0:04:59.720 --> 0:05:03.599 eighth minute after a mistake by South Africa's defense. Then 0:05:03.720 --> 0:05:10.839 Mexico scored again at minute sixty seven. Towards the end 0:05:10.880 --> 0:05:13.320 of the game, South Africa was down by two men 0:05:13.400 --> 0:05:16.240 who got expelled because of red cards, which made it 0:05:16.279 --> 0:05:20.479 impossible to catch up. Really, Mexico's captain was also sent 0:05:20.560 --> 0:05:23.119 off with a red card in the final minutes, which 0:05:23.160 --> 0:05:27.039 means he will be missing the next game. Three red 0:05:27.200 --> 0:05:28.680 cards in one game. 0:05:29.000 --> 0:05:30.320 That's a lot, and. 0:05:30.279 --> 0:05:32.679 That's a record for an opening match in the World Cup. 0:05:33.800 --> 0:05:39.160 The final score was Mexico two South Africa zero. And 0:05:39.279 --> 0:05:41.919 here's one thing that I didn't really love about this game. 0:05:42.600 --> 0:05:45.360 I'm not a huge fan of these US FIFA made 0:05:45.440 --> 0:05:48.839 hydration breaks. Soccer is supposed to be a game of 0:05:48.920 --> 0:05:51.920 continuous play. It kind of makes me feel like this 0:05:52.000 --> 0:05:55.480 is an Americanized version of the World Cup, perfectly tailored 0:05:55.480 --> 0:05:59.279 for commercial breaks and more ad revenue. But Fiva says 0:05:59.320 --> 0:06:02.240 the decision was made out of concern for the player's 0:06:02.279 --> 0:06:08.480 well being. Overall, I'd say this was a pretty good 0:06:08.520 --> 0:06:12.520 opening ceremony. And Friday, there are two other opening ceremonies 0:06:12.560 --> 0:06:15.360 planned the head of the first games played in Canada 0:06:15.520 --> 0:06:18.039 and in the United States. I'm going to be watching 0:06:18.080 --> 0:06:28.880 those two from Futuro Studios an Fernande Chabarri and this 0:06:29.200 --> 0:06:32.520 is American Football, a show about soccer culture in the 0:06:32.640 --> 0:06:44.360 US and it's underdog reefs. So clearly there is a 0:06:44.400 --> 0:06:47.760 lot going on with this World Cup. There's a major 0:06:47.839 --> 0:06:51.400 format change for the tournament. There are challenging logistics for 0:06:51.520 --> 0:06:55.440 teams and fans to move across three enormous countries. There's, 0:06:55.480 --> 0:06:58.159 of course the complaints about the high cost all of 0:06:58.200 --> 0:07:03.200 this unfolding over the backdrop some pretty volatile geopolitics. So 0:07:03.240 --> 0:07:05.560 we thought we'd bring together two very smart people who 0:07:05.560 --> 0:07:07.520 know a lot about soccer to give us the lay 0:07:07.520 --> 0:07:10.600 of the land as a tournament kicks off. Jasmine Gars 0:07:10.760 --> 0:07:14.800 covers immigration in soccer for NPR and Max Brettos is 0:07:14.840 --> 0:07:17.680 a sports reporter and a play by play announcer from 0:07:17.760 --> 0:07:22.440 Major League Soccer on Apple TV. Jasmine, Max, thank you 0:07:22.480 --> 0:07:26.000 for being here. Hi. Hello. Before we talk about the 0:07:26.040 --> 0:07:29.000 World Cup as a whole, the players, the games, all 0:07:29.040 --> 0:07:32.000 of that stuff, I want to talk about the fans 0:07:32.360 --> 0:07:37.040 because there's been reports of price gouging, last minute changes 0:07:37.080 --> 0:07:40.200 in seat assignments. What are some of the issues that 0:07:40.240 --> 0:07:42.760 the fans are having to overcome to. 0:07:42.800 --> 0:07:44.160 Make it to this World Cup? 0:07:44.200 --> 0:07:47.240 Also first time ever that we're having it in three countries, 0:07:47.360 --> 0:07:50.080 three big countries. Jasmine, why don't we start with you? 0:07:50.520 --> 0:07:53.440 The first thing that I'll say is my nine to 0:07:53.520 --> 0:07:59.120 five my job is I cover immigration and there's a 0:07:59.280 --> 0:08:03.920 climate of a very well founded fear right now in 0:08:03.960 --> 0:08:09.360 the US that very much affects how safe people feel 0:08:09.640 --> 0:08:10.960 doing everyday things. 0:08:11.320 --> 0:08:13.200 For context, I live in New York. 0:08:13.760 --> 0:08:15.520 Much of the World Cup is going to be played 0:08:15.560 --> 0:08:19.880 at MetLife in New Jersey, about fifteen minutes away from 0:08:19.920 --> 0:08:23.679 the MetLife Stadium where the final is going to be held. 0:08:24.120 --> 0:08:27.360 There's currently a hunger strike at an ICE detention facility 0:08:28.080 --> 0:08:33.960 because of allegations of absolutely horrific conditions for immigrants in detention. 0:08:34.480 --> 0:08:36.439 Now, DHS Homeland. 0:08:36.040 --> 0:08:39.959 Security has said that they'll have the normal presence that 0:08:40.000 --> 0:08:44.760 they would have at any massive international event held in 0:08:44.800 --> 0:08:49.680 the US and that there won't be ice raids at 0:08:49.720 --> 0:08:52.360 the Games. But nevertheless, I mean, if you think about 0:08:52.440 --> 0:08:56.480 who loves Fouthbold more than anyone in the US, who 0:08:56.600 --> 0:09:01.840 just lives for fruth Bold, it's the immigrant communities, not 0:09:01.920 --> 0:09:04.280 just Latinos. I'm about to go spend a ton of 0:09:04.280 --> 0:09:07.960 time with like Arab American communities in the Midwest, and 0:09:08.040 --> 0:09:11.720 so I think when we talk about the fandom, first 0:09:11.760 --> 0:09:14.560 of all, it's really important to talk about this climate 0:09:14.600 --> 0:09:19.760 of fear in immigrant communities that this is happening simultaneously with. 0:09:20.679 --> 0:09:24.720 And the second thing I will say is the absolutely 0:09:25.440 --> 0:09:28.679 grotesque cost of tickets. 0:09:29.040 --> 0:09:30.920 Grotesque is the perfect. 0:09:30.480 --> 0:09:31.000 Word for it. 0:09:31.320 --> 0:09:34.559 I don't like the direction that sports and sports fandom 0:09:34.600 --> 0:09:37.520 has gone, and it's beyond soccer. I mean, they call 0:09:37.559 --> 0:09:40.800 it dynamic pricing, and it's a small percentage of people 0:09:40.800 --> 0:09:42.640 that get to go to a World Cup. I understand that, 0:09:42.679 --> 0:09:44.920 but you know, for so long people were excited about this. 0:09:46.080 --> 0:09:49.440 FIFA's a business, and you give them some leeway for 0:09:49.559 --> 0:09:52.320 doing that, but there's certain levels of greed that we've 0:09:52.360 --> 0:09:56.160 seen that just are really off putting. But they see 0:09:56.200 --> 0:10:00.360 a business opportunity, and the feeling is if they have 0:10:00.400 --> 0:10:03.160 a stadium that's sixty percent full and people are spending 0:10:03.200 --> 0:10:05.760 one thousand dollars a ticket, they'll make more money than 0:10:05.800 --> 0:10:08.600 if it's completely full and people are spending three hundred 0:10:08.600 --> 0:10:12.320 dollars a ticket, which is still very expensive. And FIVA 0:10:12.360 --> 0:10:15.040 doesn't have the greatest record with regards to how they've 0:10:15.160 --> 0:10:18.400 handled their finances and corruption and those kind of things. 0:10:19.200 --> 0:10:21.680 I understand that part, but you know, I'm looking forward 0:10:21.679 --> 0:10:23.800 to the games, and you know, I've accepted watching you know, 0:10:23.840 --> 0:10:26.040 games with your friends at home and on TV, which 0:10:26.080 --> 0:10:28.720 is going to be really well covered. But I feel 0:10:28.800 --> 0:10:31.600 for those American fans in particular, they were hoping to 0:10:31.679 --> 0:10:32.600 let alone go. 0:10:32.600 --> 0:10:34.439 To a game or go with their family, which they 0:10:34.480 --> 0:10:34.959 can't do. 0:10:35.760 --> 0:10:36.520 How much this is. 0:10:36.559 --> 0:10:40.320 Shift the vibe in the stadium because when you only 0:10:40.360 --> 0:10:42.960 have a certain group of people who can afford these tickets, 0:10:43.760 --> 0:10:45.800 or instead of like going with your family, you end 0:10:45.840 --> 0:10:46.680 up going by yourself. 0:10:47.200 --> 0:10:48.760 I can go to a concert by myself, but going 0:10:48.800 --> 0:10:50.360 to sports by yourself is the worst, right. 0:10:50.800 --> 0:10:52.719 I really am curious as to how this is going 0:10:52.760 --> 0:10:57.319 to change the vibe in the sands. Have you heard 0:10:57.360 --> 0:11:01.280 of any fans in particular about maybe being with the 0:11:01.400 --> 0:11:04.120 inability to acts as the games and to have this 0:11:05.040 --> 0:11:08.319 dark cloud that really host countries haven't had. 0:11:08.160 --> 0:11:12.520 Before with regards to the tickets. Dissolution is certainly a 0:11:12.559 --> 0:11:15.080 word that is appropriate. But you know, people want to 0:11:15.080 --> 0:11:17.360 go to the World Cup. They're getting on these FIFA 0:11:17.400 --> 0:11:19.840 websites and new ticket allotments and they're getting on They're 0:11:19.880 --> 0:11:20.840 spending hours of their. 0:11:20.760 --> 0:11:23.080 Day to do it. So there's this desperation to find 0:11:23.080 --> 0:11:23.920 a way to get in. 0:11:24.559 --> 0:11:26.680 And we saw that the Club World Cup, which is 0:11:26.679 --> 0:11:28.319 this new FIFA tournament which was held here in the 0:11:28.400 --> 0:11:30.960 United States. We saw that to a lesser degree, and 0:11:30.960 --> 0:11:35.440 there was these stories people getting a second mortgage, selling 0:11:35.520 --> 0:11:36.000 their car. 0:11:36.679 --> 0:11:37.360 One guy was. 0:11:37.280 --> 0:11:39.120 Being interviewed and said, when I get back, my wife's 0:11:39.120 --> 0:11:41.280 probably gonna divorce me because I sold this. 0:11:41.160 --> 0:11:42.080 To company, these tickets. 0:11:42.760 --> 0:11:44.560 There was a kid who said he sold his console 0:11:45.240 --> 0:11:47.400 to come over, not even go to the game, just 0:11:47.400 --> 0:11:49.800 to come travel with family members so he could be there, 0:11:50.040 --> 0:11:52.280 so his little video game console, and he was so excited, 0:11:52.320 --> 0:11:54.120 and I'm like, this is not the way it's supposed 0:11:54.120 --> 0:11:57.120 to be. So the stadium averagers can be a little newtered, 0:11:57.120 --> 0:11:58.480 which it is at the World Cup. I mean, if 0:11:58.480 --> 0:12:01.920 you watch club soccer in anywhere there's a fan culture 0:12:01.960 --> 0:12:03.920 and it's rowdy, you're not going to see that. 0:12:03.960 --> 0:12:07.679 You're not gonna hear drums and songs. I think I've gotten. 0:12:07.440 --> 0:12:08.920 Used to that, but I'm wondering if it's going to 0:12:08.960 --> 0:12:11.959 take another turn here in the United States because. 0:12:11.880 --> 0:12:13.640 The reality so stadiums aren't going to be one hundred 0:12:13.640 --> 0:12:14.000 percent full. 0:12:14.800 --> 0:12:18.679 From what I have spoken to people here in the US, 0:12:19.160 --> 0:12:23.440 it is an event for wealthy people and it's seen 0:12:23.480 --> 0:12:26.439 as that you know, and the rest of us will 0:12:26.559 --> 0:12:29.240 watch it at bars and at parties and have an 0:12:29.280 --> 0:12:32.040 amazing time with it. But I also think, I mean 0:12:32.040 --> 0:12:34.719 when I think of like the economy of Virgentina where 0:12:34.760 --> 0:12:38.280 I'm from right now, I mean, who can afford that, 0:12:38.960 --> 0:12:42.120 you know at this moment, like very wealthy people or 0:12:42.679 --> 0:12:45.199 maybe like someone extremely reckless. 0:12:46.640 --> 0:12:50.439 And even the really far away like in Mexigo Simos Angayola, 0:12:50.520 --> 0:12:53.040 like the scene that are way up Like we're not 0:12:53.080 --> 0:12:54.960 even saying, oh, we can't afford the great. 0:12:54.720 --> 0:12:55.880 Seats just to get in the building. 0:12:56.040 --> 0:12:58.640 It's a big investment to get like way up there. 0:12:58.679 --> 0:12:58.880 You know. 0:12:59.400 --> 0:13:02.080 A big focus of the series is about soccer culture 0:13:02.120 --> 0:13:07.040 here in the US, and it's changed. I interviewed Tabramos 0:13:07.400 --> 0:13:09.640 and he talked about how, even though he was a 0:13:09.679 --> 0:13:12.640 really big deal soccer player in the nineties, he would 0:13:12.679 --> 0:13:15.200 go to a sports bar and they weren't playing soccer, 0:13:15.400 --> 0:13:17.200 and then he would be like, I actually kind of 0:13:17.200 --> 0:13:19.960 played for like a big deal moment of the US 0:13:20.000 --> 0:13:22.360 and they'd be like, oh, like as a hobby. So 0:13:22.360 --> 0:13:25.960 it's like, ouch, right, it's different now than it was 0:13:26.000 --> 0:13:28.360 in nineteen ninety four when the US hosted the World 0:13:28.400 --> 0:13:31.120 Cup last time. So I want to hear from both 0:13:31.120 --> 0:13:34.920 of you. From your perspective, what does soccer culture look 0:13:35.080 --> 0:13:38.480 like here in the United States today, Jessma, Let's start 0:13:38.520 --> 0:13:39.559 with you. 0:13:38.640 --> 0:13:42.280 You know, every time there's a World Cup, I get 0:13:42.280 --> 0:13:48.720 this question from certain editors and certain news outlets. Not 0:13:48.960 --> 0:13:52.000 at all what you're asking, but this question, which is 0:13:52.000 --> 0:13:53.920 is this the time it's finally going. 0:13:53.920 --> 0:13:57.680 To catch on? And to me, that's such a. 0:13:57.559 --> 0:14:03.120 Weird question because I guess I live in a Hispanic 0:14:03.160 --> 0:14:09.559 neighborhood in Queens, Queens is largely immigrant, and to me, 0:14:09.679 --> 0:14:15.240 there's never been a moment where it hasn't been caught on, Like, Okay, 0:14:15.320 --> 0:14:18.760 where are you asking about? Like my particular neighborhood in 0:14:18.840 --> 0:14:22.440 Queens is Colombia and Ecuadorian, and I know when those 0:14:22.440 --> 0:14:25.920 two teams play, it'll be paralyzed and I'll hear like 0:14:26.520 --> 0:14:31.160 random screams on the street, you know, when someone makes 0:14:31.160 --> 0:14:34.280 a goal or there's a foul or a penalty. And 0:14:34.360 --> 0:14:38.880 so to me, it's so alive and it's so healthy, 0:14:39.000 --> 0:14:44.040 and it's so vibrant. And because I'm covering this Cup, 0:14:44.240 --> 0:14:46.360 like I was asked, like, you know, you should go 0:14:46.360 --> 0:14:48.720 to the games, you should go into the stadiums, And 0:14:48.760 --> 0:14:52.520 I gotta be honest with you, I am more excited 0:14:52.560 --> 0:14:56.960 about going to different bars in Queens to watch this 0:14:57.400 --> 0:15:00.520 than I am about going to the stadium, and maybe 0:15:00.520 --> 0:15:04.080 that makes me a huge weirdo. Now that's more exciting 0:15:04.200 --> 0:15:04.440 to me. 0:15:05.440 --> 0:15:06.920 I want to get us to a little bit of 0:15:06.920 --> 0:15:10.400 the sort of logistics, different parts, different. 0:15:10.120 --> 0:15:11.600 Things that are happening in this World Cup. 0:15:11.680 --> 0:15:14.000 So this is going to be the first World Cup 0:15:14.520 --> 0:15:18.000 that is going to have forty eight teams participating. That's 0:15:18.120 --> 0:15:21.200 up from the conventional thirty two team format that we 0:15:21.360 --> 0:15:25.560 have seen in the past. So Max, why did FIFA 0:15:25.760 --> 0:15:28.480 choose to include more teams this time around? 0:15:28.920 --> 0:15:30.680 Well, desmit, what was that with the events? 0:15:30.720 --> 0:15:31.120 What'd you do? 0:15:31.600 --> 0:15:33.040 Twenty money money money? 0:15:33.680 --> 0:15:38.920 Yes, Now, this tournament is an absolute wagon when you 0:15:38.960 --> 0:15:41.360 think about it. I pride myself to try and see 0:15:41.400 --> 0:15:43.280 a little bit of every World Cup game. If I 0:15:43.320 --> 0:15:45.440 do that this time around, I'll get hospitalized. 0:15:45.560 --> 0:15:49.000 It's just too much. And it's a World Cup last month. 0:15:49.000 --> 0:15:50.320 This one's lasting six weeks. 0:15:50.440 --> 0:15:53.600 Yeah, crazy, it's two extra weeks because there's so many games. 0:15:54.280 --> 0:15:57.120 Like the US played June the twelfth, then they'll play 0:15:57.200 --> 0:15:59.680 until June the nineteenth, and then they don't play until 0:15:59.720 --> 0:16:02.800 June twenty fifth, So three games over two weeks. When 0:16:02.800 --> 0:16:04.760 they played the last World Cup, it was in and out. 0:16:05.160 --> 0:16:07.680 So FIFA will tell you that they're trying to branch 0:16:07.720 --> 0:16:09.800 out and make the sport bigger, which they are. And look, 0:16:09.880 --> 0:16:11.920 we have Haiti in the World Cup. I love that, 0:16:12.440 --> 0:16:14.080 and Corusal and Cape Verd. 0:16:14.880 --> 0:16:15.800 You know, Norway's back. 0:16:15.880 --> 0:16:17.840 Some countries it probably wouldn't make a thirty two, and 0:16:17.880 --> 0:16:19.760 that I think is validated. 0:16:20.400 --> 0:16:22.240 But I mean, the World. 0:16:22.040 --> 0:16:24.240 Cup's my favorite event, so I don't want to hit 0:16:24.280 --> 0:16:26.720 FIFA too hard, but the reality is it's hard to 0:16:26.720 --> 0:16:30.960 disguise how much it's always about money and with the sponsors. 0:16:31.120 --> 0:16:34.440 I mean, just for instance, when they're playing at MetLife, 0:16:34.440 --> 0:16:36.880 they're taking MetLife off. They're calling it at New York New 0:16:37.000 --> 0:16:39.960 Jersey Stadium, so fine. In LA they're calling it Los Angeles. 0:16:40.000 --> 0:16:42.760 So if you're not paying FIFA, it's ruling with an 0:16:42.760 --> 0:16:45.560 iron fist. So it is excessive with all of that. 0:16:45.680 --> 0:16:49.040 So my feeling is they're gonna go to sixty four teams, 0:16:49.320 --> 0:16:52.200 good twenty thirty. It makes more sense because it's a 0:16:52.200 --> 0:16:54.800 cleaner tournament because they're gonna have third place teams make it, 0:16:54.840 --> 0:16:56.360 which makes it a bit messy. So there is a 0:16:56.960 --> 0:16:59.160 validation to go to sixty four. So if there's something 0:16:59.200 --> 0:16:59.840 like that, I would. 0:16:59.680 --> 0:17:02.400 Imagine and it's gonna last six months, last six. 0:17:02.240 --> 0:17:04.400 Months, and then they're gonna say, let's do this every 0:17:04.400 --> 0:17:04.920 two years. 0:17:05.160 --> 0:17:09.000 I also think there's something about soccer that is very 0:17:10.040 --> 0:17:18.040 precious and delightful in its scarcity. Hear me out here, like, 0:17:18.680 --> 0:17:22.000 because I know, like FIFA is pushing for this, and 0:17:22.080 --> 0:17:26.320 I think in pushing for this, they could kind of ruin. 0:17:26.840 --> 0:17:28.880 This balance that exists. 0:17:28.920 --> 0:17:32.159 So an American friend of mine recently asked me a 0:17:32.280 --> 0:17:36.440 very like earnest question, which was, what is so exciting 0:17:36.480 --> 0:17:40.840 about a sport in which you only play like ninety 0:17:40.920 --> 0:17:43.399 minutes and maybe, if you're lucky, you make two. 0:17:43.440 --> 0:17:44.720 Maybe three goals? 0:17:46.080 --> 0:17:48.200 And you know this is coming from someone who loves 0:17:48.200 --> 0:17:51.840 American football and basketball, And what I was saying is 0:17:52.200 --> 0:17:57.760 it's the frenetic rhythm of it and the preciousness of 0:17:57.840 --> 0:18:01.560 those goals. You might make one, you might make two 0:18:02.359 --> 0:18:08.520 maybe three, and like they're precious because they're scarce, and 0:18:09.200 --> 0:18:11.439 you know, if you have so many of them, it 0:18:11.520 --> 0:18:14.760 becomes less delightful when they happen. 0:18:15.280 --> 0:18:17.000 Right, I do. 0:18:16.920 --> 0:18:19.640 Worry that if we push, like let's have the World 0:18:19.720 --> 0:18:22.960 Cup every two years, Let's have forty nations playing. 0:18:23.320 --> 0:18:24.679 Let's do it for two months. 0:18:25.400 --> 0:18:29.640 It loses like that rarity that makes it so precious 0:18:29.680 --> 0:18:32.440 to soccer fans. That's just my opinion or. 0:18:32.359 --> 0:18:35.040 One hundred percent agree something about this World Cup. 0:18:35.080 --> 0:18:38.119 When Spain plays Cape verd or when Argentina plays Jordan, 0:18:38.200 --> 0:18:39.800 these games are gonna be seven to nothing. 0:18:40.200 --> 0:18:42.000 This is not going to be pleasant. And then these teams. 0:18:42.160 --> 0:18:45.959 You'll see why thirty two teams was perfect for all 0:18:45.960 --> 0:18:49.160 those things that Jasmine said. The games they stood out 0:18:49.240 --> 0:18:52.480 because every game you knew the historical significance this World 0:18:52.480 --> 0:18:54.359 Cup because of the teams, and you get there's a 0:18:54.359 --> 0:18:56.320 little bit more forgiving if you lose a game, because 0:18:56.320 --> 0:18:57.840 you can get through if you're a third place team 0:18:57.840 --> 0:18:58.760 in a four team group. 0:18:58.960 --> 0:19:00.840 Yeah, that magic it's lost for sure. 0:19:08.359 --> 0:19:10.840 After the break, we talk about the teams and the 0:19:10.840 --> 0:19:12.600 players we should be watching out for. 0:19:13.160 --> 0:19:13.920 We'll be right back. 0:19:27.520 --> 0:19:31.480 You're listening to American football and Fernande Chavarri. Let's get 0:19:31.480 --> 0:19:34.440 back to my conversation with Jasmine Gars and Max Bretos, 0:19:34.680 --> 0:19:37.119 to the moment when I ask them who they're rooting 0:19:37.160 --> 0:19:40.280 for this World Cup. Now I want to look a 0:19:40.320 --> 0:19:43.080 little bit ahead at what we have to look forward to. 0:19:43.359 --> 0:19:46.880 And Max I should have asked you you're Cuban American. 0:19:47.040 --> 0:19:49.320 Yes, so who's your team? 0:19:49.600 --> 0:19:51.800 I'm going to pull for the United States covering MLS. 0:19:51.800 --> 0:19:53.159 We have a lot of guys in our league that 0:19:53.200 --> 0:19:55.520 are playing for there, but I always pull for the 0:19:55.520 --> 0:19:56.760 American teams in general. 0:19:57.080 --> 0:19:59.679 You're going to root for the US and countries from 0:19:59.680 --> 0:20:02.480 the America. Jasmine Duh Argentina. 0:20:02.600 --> 0:20:04.119 Oh, you're gonna sell me. 0:20:04.800 --> 0:20:08.920 I'm covering this as a reporter officially for NPR, and 0:20:09.080 --> 0:20:13.560 so I know everyone's gonna roll their eyes, but I actually. 0:20:13.200 --> 0:20:16.120 Feel like it really liberates me. 0:20:17.000 --> 0:20:22.359 To enjoy amazing soccer from all the teams and watch 0:20:22.840 --> 0:20:26.119 the soccer. As you know, Fanana, from working on the 0:20:26.200 --> 0:20:29.840 last Cup, I really suffered a lot. Oh it's really 0:20:29.880 --> 0:20:33.600 hard for me. Four years ago I started smoking again. 0:20:34.160 --> 0:20:39.120 I was screaming. It was tremendous. And now I get 0:20:39.119 --> 0:20:42.920 to widen my lens and focus on teams and players 0:20:42.920 --> 0:20:46.080 that are not necessarily from Argentina that I'm just so 0:20:46.280 --> 0:20:47.360 fascinated by. 0:20:47.720 --> 0:20:53.800 Poor Jasmine having to suffer through Argentina lifting the trophy. 0:20:54.160 --> 0:20:56.160 I mean, that was a rough final. 0:20:57.600 --> 0:21:02.760 I want to know who are the favorites to win, 0:21:03.760 --> 0:21:07.560 who you think might be the like super shocker, surprise, 0:21:09.080 --> 0:21:10.400 and who's the biggest underdog. 0:21:10.920 --> 0:21:13.199 You know, I think it's a fool's errand for a 0:21:13.320 --> 0:21:17.000 journalist to say who's gonna win. But I will say 0:21:17.200 --> 0:21:23.639 two teams that are just strikingly good are Spain. Spain 0:21:23.760 --> 0:21:27.120 is just extraordinary. They're the ruling euro champion. They're young, 0:21:27.200 --> 0:21:32.359 they're hungry, they're aggressive. I'm obsessed with La Mignamel. He's 0:21:32.440 --> 0:21:34.600 like eighteen and he's a prodigy. 0:21:34.880 --> 0:21:38.440 He's going to be a star after this. He is 0:21:38.440 --> 0:21:39.920 a supercar. Yeah, rock. 0:21:40.560 --> 0:21:42.879 I can't wait to see him play in this world. 0:21:44.040 --> 0:21:46.440 And then, you know, France is a machine. 0:21:46.880 --> 0:21:49.000 You take out one player and you can put in 0:21:49.040 --> 0:21:52.280 another and they still work like a well oiled machine. 0:21:52.600 --> 0:21:56.720 I know Killian Mbappe has had an injury he's been 0:21:56.720 --> 0:22:00.480 grappling with, but I think they are such a well oil, 0:22:00.640 --> 0:22:04.120 cohesive machine that it'll be really interesting to see them 0:22:04.160 --> 0:22:08.240 go out into the field this time around underdogs. 0:22:09.000 --> 0:22:11.760 Okay. I loved Morocco's story last World Cup. 0:22:11.840 --> 0:22:14.280 I thought they just like they shocked everyone and I 0:22:14.320 --> 0:22:16.399