The men’s FIFA World Cup starts next week! Seattle will host six games, including one featuring the U.S. team. 

Soundside has discussed the politics of the World Cup, how these giant events can impact a city, and other weighty FIFA-related topics. You can find all of those conversations below.

But we haven't talked about the actual game yet.

Who’s playing, who’s expected to do well and could our own US team actually pull out a better-than-expected this year?

Guest


Leander Schaerlaecken, author, The Long Game - U.S. Men's Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts.

Related Links

As the World Cup arrives in Seattle, so do the contradictions - Soundside

Is it worth it to host the World Cup? It depends. - Soundside

How Good Is This World Cup Squad, Really? - The New Yorker 

Leander Schaerlaecken's columns for The Guardian


Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible!

Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you like, what you hate: Tell us your hot takes. kuow.org/feedback.

Also, if you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

The men&rsquo;s FIFA World Cup starts next week! Seattle will host six games, including one featuring the U.S. team.&nbsp;
Soundside has discussed the politics of the World Cup, how these giant events can impact a city, and other weighty FIFA-related topics. You can find all of those conversations below.
But we haven't talked about the actual game yet.
Who&rsquo;s playing, who&rsquo;s expected to do well and could our own US team actually pull out a better-than-expected this year?
Guest 
Leander Schaerlaecken, author, <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-long-game-u-s-men-s-soccer-and-its-savage-four-decade-journey-to-the-top-or-thereabouts-leander-schaerlaeckens/b447f2e7aa562273?ean=9780593653876&amp;amp;next=t">The Long Game - U.S. Men's Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts</a>.
Related Links
<a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/as-the-world-cup-arrives-in-seattle-so-do-the-contradictions">As the World Cup arrives in Seattle, so do the contradictions</a> - Soundside <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/is-it-worth-it-to-host-the-world-cup-it-depends">Is it worth it to host the World Cup? It depends.</a> - Soundside
<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-lede/how-good-is-this-world-cup-squad-really">How Good Is This World Cup Squad, Really?</a> - The New Yorker <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/profile/leanderschaerlaeckens">Leander Schaerlaecken's columns for The Guardian</a>
 Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible!
Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you like, what you hate: Tell us your hot takes. <a href="https://www.kuow.org/feedback">kuow.org/feedback</a>.
Also, if you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

The USMNT once pulled a fan out of the stands to have enough people to play. Things are different now. 