It's Official

We're knee-deep in the holiday season, and there's no time like the present to accomplish those 2022 new year's resolutions.

Plenty of time,
The Last Night's Game Team

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WORLD CUP

The US stunned the world by tying England in their group stage game. Fox's broadcast of the competition attracted 15.4 million viewers — making it the most-watched men's soccer match on American English-language television ever.

Team USA will play the last team in their group stage, Iran, on Tuesday, but it's not without controversy. Team USA used social media to speak out against the injustices in Iran, intentionally showing Iran's flag without the emblem of the Islamic Republic. Iran said the post 'offended their country's dignity' and asked for FIFA to remove Team USA from the World Cup. NOT MAKING FRIENDS

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Short and Sweet

• Pete Davidson and Emily Ratajkowski took their relationship public, sitting next to Ben Stiller and singer Jordan Sparks courtside at the New York Knicks (NBA - National Basketball Association) game.

• Lionel Messi is playing in what is likely his last World Cup. Details emerged he’s on the verge of signing a record-breaking deal with MLS (Major League Soccer) team Inter Miami, owned by soccer legend David Beckham.

• A skunk loose in the stands appeared to be the good luck charm the Cleveland Browns needed to beat Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

• Odell Beckham Jr. is one of the most coveted free agents. He was thrown off an American Airlines flight after a dispute with the crew.

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Before We Go

We're rolling into bowl game season in college football. This upcoming weekend's conference championships will determine the playoffs, but some of the bowl game matchups have already been decided. The NCAA (the governing body of college sports) lowered the bar for entry into a bowl game from six wins to five to fill vacant bowl games.

How do they determine which five-win teams get to play for the big money of a bowl game? The APR, or Academic Progress Rate. It's an equation that measures the percentage of players in a program who are academically eligible and on track to graduate. The higher the score, the better your chance of making a bowl game. THAT'S USING YOUR NOGGIN'

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Game Changer

Everything in our store is on sale this weekend because it's Cyber Monday. Use promo code SPORTSCURIOUS for your 20% discount. LET'S DO THIS

Say No To Awkwardness

From fan-favorite recipes to family-friendly trivia to movies to watch fireside, check out our guide to drama-free holidays. BETTER TOGETHER

That's The Spirit

If you're reading this, you're one of the few souls bothering with emails this week (or for the rest of the year now that it's the holidays).

Here's to less work and more wine,
The Last Night's Game Team

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WORLD CUP

Chants of "Queremos Cerveza" or "We Want Beer" rang out from the stands during the Ecuador/Qatar game yesterday. Qatar decided late last week to ban beer from matches. Team Ecuador handed the home team a loss in the first game of the month-long tournament.

Team USA kicks off their tournament today against Wales at 2 pm ET. Team USA is fielding one of its youngest teams ever, and they're looking for redemption after missing the 2018 tournament in Russia. Leading the team when they take the field today is Tyler Adams. He will be the youngest captain at this World Cup and the first Black man to captain the US throughout any World Cup. THE WORLD IS MINE

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Short and Sweet

• Not even an entire bachelor party dressed like legendary Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka could help the Bears defeat the Atlanta Falcons.

• Shining a silver lining on holiday travel, you can now bet which airline will have the most flight delays/cancellations over Thanksgiving.

• Captains of seven major European soccer teams had plans to wear armbands showing support for minority groups, including LGBTQ individuals, at the World Cup but FIFA (the governing body of global soccer) threatened to issue yellow cards against players.

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Before We Go

Once the hottest teams in football, the Tennessee Volunteers saw their College Football Playoff hopes fade after losing to the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Gamecocks scored so many touchdowns in the game that the stadium ran out of celebratory touchdown fireworks. BABY, YOU'RE A FIREWORK

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Game Changer

Football AND wine - these are a few of our favorite things (besides this tri-blend super comfy shirt of course). STOCKING STUFFER

Say No To Awkwardness

Steer clear from a flare-up at the Thanksgiving table by avoiding these conversation minefields and diverting to safer (and dare we say sportier?) ones. TURKEY DAY TABLE TOPICS

Come As You Are

The last five-day work week before a holiday week means it's going to be full on, but there's light at the end of the tunnel.

Inhale, exhale,
The Last Night's Game Team

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NFL (National Football League)

Tom Brady adds international man of victory, claiming the title as the only NFL player to win in four different countries after his Buccaneers defeated the Seahawks in Germany's first NFL game. German fans were here for the American Football festivities, including singing John Denver's "Country Roads" in unison during the last few minutes of the game. Why Denver's hit song? According to USA Today, "the song is a staple for most Oktoberfest tents and a prized drinking singalong" in Germany. RALLY CRY

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Short and Sweet

• Texas A&M is having one of the most disappointing seasons after setting the bar a little too high with the No. 1 recruiting class, and now they'll miss a chance to play in a bowl game.

• We all have our awkward Zoom call moment, and now NFL Rules Analyst Mike Pereira has his. Except he was on live television during a game.

• It's no surprise to anyone that after crypto exchange company FTX filed for bankruptcy, the Miami Heat (NBA - National Basketball Association) announced they wouldn't be playing at FTX Arena much longer.

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Before We Go

Heading into likely his last World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo lights up his Manchester United team in an interview with Piers Morgan. Ronaldo, 37, says he feels "betrayed" and like the club is pushing him out. Ronaldo, who has won almost every soccer award, has never won a World Cup title. He will play for Team Portugal when the World Cup starts on Sunday. PROVE THEM WRONG

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Game Changer

Football AND wine - these are a few of our favorite things (besides this tri-blend super comfy shirt of course). STOCKING STUFFER

Say No To Awkwardness

Our 5 Athletes Who Turned Their Fame Into A Career In Politics is exactly what you need to redirect from the dreaded political conversation you'll undoubtedly face at the Thanksgiving table. GET OUT AND VOTE