The 5 Things You Need To Know About The World Cup
Nearly half of the world’s population watched the last World Cup, which happens every four years. Therefore, the topic of soccer is going to be unavoidable for the next month.
Nearly half of the world’s population watched the last World Cup, which happens every four years. Therefore, the topic of soccer is going to be unavoidable for the next month.
If you can’t beat 'em, join 'em,
The Last Night’s Game Team
The Five Things You Need To Know About The World Cup
1. Starting tomorrow and for the next month, the world’s eyes will be on Russia as they host the best 32 teams in the world in their fight for the global title. Not in the battle? A team from Italy and the U.S. It has been 60 years since the Italians failed to qualify for the World Cup and 32 years for the Americans. BUT WHY?
2. FOX paid over $400 million for the broadcasting rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup. Despite shelling out that cash, 8 of the 12 broadcasters will be calling games from a studio in Los Angeles, not live from Russia. Guess they forgot to include funds for a travel budget? On the bright side, Aly Wagner will become the first woman to call a men’s World Cup soccer game. KUDOS ALY
3. With the United States out of the tournament, who should you cheer for? How about Team Iceland? They’re the smallest country to ever qualify for the men’s World Cup (population 330,000), it’s their first time ever playing in a World Cup AND their coach was a dentist up until two years ago, so give it up for the underdog. (Not to be confused with the under bite – obligatory dentist joke). WHO TO ROOT FOR
4. Three of the best soccer players in the world also happen to be three of the highest paid athletes on earth, but what’s the one thing they all have in common besides big bank accounts? No World Cup trophy. You can catch Lionel Messi (Team Argentina - #2 in the world in getting paid), Cristano Ronaldo (Team Portugal - #3) and Neymar (Team Brazil - #5) as they fight for the one thing they can’t buy. LAST CHANCE
5. The host team automatically qualifies for the tournament so Russia is in. What’s also in right now in Russia? Smiling. Apparently workers who will interact with the influx of tourist (ex. train workers) have been learning how to smile in hopes of dispelling the stigma that Russians aren’t friendly. SAY CHEESE
Bonus: Announced this morning – a joint bid by Canada, Mexico and the United States to host the 2026 World Cup has been successful. Canada and Mexico will host 10 of the games and the U.S. will host 60. MORE
Let’s talk about today
Living life in the present? Here’s what everyone is bantering about over their bacon this morning including an epic championship day, a scholarship surprise and they spent how much on booze in the past week? READ
Crowning Achievement
Since none of us woke up this morning as the Duchess of Sussex, it looks like it’s back to the grind.
Since none of us woke up this morning as the Duchess of Sussex, it looks like it’s back to the grind.
You're still royally sports smart,
The Last Night’s Game Team
The Race For The Triple Crown
When there’s no surprise here. Kentucky Derby winner, Justify, was the heavy favorite in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes. It wasn’t pretty but Justify easily won the sloppy, muddy race. The Preakness is the second of three races a horse has to win to achieve the Triple Crown. With two of those races in the bag, the next stop for Justify is the Belmont Stakes on June 9, where he hopes to become the next Triple Crown winner. MORE ON THE RACE
Overtime
Speaking of crowns, you couldn’t avoid the coverage of the royal wedding this weekend. As expected, even the sporty were invited. Tennis star Serena Williams and soccer great David Beckham, along with their spouses, looked the part donning a different kind of uniform for the royal celebration. PICS
Sideline stat
The first all-athlete season of Dancing With The Stars comes to a close tonight in the season finale and may the most coordinated win. The final three athletes left standing are Josh Norman, player for the Washington Redskins (NFL – National Football League) and two members of the Olympic figure skating team – Adam Rippon and Tonya Harding. We’ll find out tonight who will dance away with the famed mirrorball trophy. QUICK SEASON RECAP
Coaches’ corner
With “Star Wars” favorite Chewbacca sitting courtside, the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA – National Basketball Association) embodied the power of the force when they dominated the Boston Celtics in their playoff game this weekend. Did you know that new Chewbacca is actually played by former Penn State and Finnish basketball player Joonas Suotamo? So maybe the wookie does have game? (PS – the Cavs are down 2-1 in the semifinal series against the Celtics).
What to watch
The Vegas Golden Knights are in! In their inaugural season the team continues to chase history, defeating the Winnipeg Jets last night to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. They’re waiting on their opponent, the victor of the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning series. The two teams will play tonight for a spot in the finals. SCHEDULE
Scary Good
No need to waste your time scouring the internet to determine what happened this weekend in sports, we have it all right here. Put that time toward something good, like finding a last-minute Halloween costume for tomorrow night.
No need to waste your time scouring the internet to determine what happened this weekend because we have it all right here. Put that time toward something useful, like finding a last-minute Halloween costume for tomorrow night.
Trick or treat,
The Last Night’s Game Team
MLB (Major League Baseball)
Super Series. Last night’s World Series game saw a record setting number of home runs, more than a dozen different pitchers and a handful of lead changes, all in a five-plus hour game. The second longest game in World Series history ended with the Houston Astros on top. The teams will now head to Dodger Stadium for game six tomorrow. If the Astros win that game, they’ll be World Champions.
College Football
Celebrations ensue. There were two huge upsets in college football this weekend that you should know about. The first, Ohio State (#6) came from behind to beat an undefeated Penn State (#2). The second, Cinderella story Iowa State beat a previously undefeated TCU (Texas Christian University - #4) team. RESULTS
NFL (National Football League)
Remain defeated. The two winless NFL teams, the San Francisco 49ers and the Cleveland Browns, lost again. Better luck next week. WEEKEND SCORES
Overtime
At only 32 years old, driver Lewis Hamilton has won his fourth F1 (Formula One) championship. Hamilton now claims the title of most accomplished British driver ever. Pretty impressive even if he does drive on the other side of the road.
Sideline stat
Five games. That's how many games Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel will be suspended next season for making a racist gesture toward a Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher. After hitting a home run off of him, Gurriel made a slanted eye gesture toward Japanese-Iranian pitcher Yu Darvish. Darvish accepted Gurriel's apology and said that everyone "should learn from this instead of focusing on anger."
Coaches’ corner
Just in time for a good Halloween statistical scare, the first official college football playoff rankings will be released tomorrow. These rankings will give teams a good idea where they stand as it relates to the playoffs, although there is plenty of football left to be played.