Welcome to our recent Discord AMA with Men in Blazers’ founder and CEO, Roger Bennett, where he answered fans’ questions about his new book, “We Are The World (Cup): A Personal History of the World’s Greatest Sporting Event,” which is out March 3.

The book is a deeply personal history of the tournament, written to allow hardcore football fans and newcomers to relive the backstory of every World Cup of the modern period. If you’d like to help make the book a big success, take a moment to do something counter-intuitive: pre-order a copy now. It is crazy how the book industry works. Pre-orders make or break a book. So if MiB has given you any joy, and you can find it in your heart to thank us, this would be the way. If you buy one at any Independent book store, upload your receipt at this landing page and we will send you a signed book plate ASAP! Please spread the word.

We also have a new tiered offer for those looking to buy three, five, or 10 copies of the new book. Place your order here to get a signed bookplate, poster or personalized video from Rog himself. We are so grateful for your support at this moment, more than we can say.

Lastly, please keep sending us your suggestions for your favorite indie book stores we should highlight. Now, onto the AMA.

TheFuzzyFootballer: Which player besides Pulisic will be a stand out player for the U.S. this summer?

Roger Bennett: Chris Richards is going to announce himself as the face of this team.

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Lauren: What would be the most likely AMA question(s), from Rog as a kid to the Rog that wrote this book?

RB: I ask that question all the time of guests, “What would NOW you say to KID You?” My journey has been so insane. So many risks. So many lunatical occurrences. It is hard for me to advise young me to follow my lead as it has been mad. But the one thing I do think is important is hard work and tenacity. Those are two things, but I do think those two values, for anyone anywhere, are the key ones in life.

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Aitch: When is Rog interviewing Mark Carney?

RB: Working on it. I do want to make sure that Canada and Mexico have their stories told. It is such a magnificent moment for Canadian football, generationally game changing. PLUS, HE IS AN EVERTON FAN!!!

Aitch: That last point is the most important point, tbh.

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tcook: As a fellow audiophile, I've always appreciated that Rog the writer tends to litter his chronology with artists/songs that are inextricably linked to those moments. I'll leave it to you to provide a proper "soundtrack" to the book text at a later date, but was there any music in the background of writing the new book that you want to share?

RB: That is so lovely, tcook, thank you. One of the JOYS of doing this book was writing about the 1994 World Cup. I had just moved to Chicago. Had no money at all. Was living a threadbare life. Uncle Tupelo were just breaking through and watching them at Lounge Ax was one of the massive joys in my life. Jeff Tweedy gave me permission to use his lyrics in the book, which I am so grateful for. They close the 1994 Chapter. I wrote this: 

“Lacking football in my life, I threw myself into the Chicago music scene for solace. Uncle Tupelo’s album “Anodyne” had just been released. I saved up enough to watch the band play gigs at the legendary Lounge Ax. Their track “The Long Cut” was my anthem, and I listened to its message of struggle and eventual promise on repeat on my Discman: “Come on, let’s take the long cut. I think that’s what we need. If you wanna take the long cut, we'll get there eventually.” The lead singer, Jeff Tweedy, was singing about his fraught relationships with his bandmates, but the lyrics always held a double meaning for me, reflecting the journey I hoped soccer had just begun in my chosen home.”

tcook: Amazing. Tupelo definitely one of my favorite acts of all time. Next FIFA World Peace Award to Rog for getting Farrar and Tweedy on stage together. Thanks for the response!

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James: Rog, you mentioned that your book was written almost entirely on planes. While many people find flying to be 'suboptimal' and knee-crushing, what is it about being 30,000 feet in the air that gets you into the World Cup headspace? Is it the isolation, the mini bottles of wine, or just physically being a bit closer to the footballing gods?

RB: Ha, I actually don't drink on flights. The hangovers post-dehydration do me in. I think it is the lack of good internet, and the desire to do something super productive despite that. But I have literally written this book flying to Europe and back in seven-hour slots.... a fever dream.

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Benja: Rog, where does the ‘99 gold medal match fall on your list of all time WC memories? Near the top of the list for me.

RB: The book is a testament to the power of World Cup memories. I think my most powerful memories are: Maradona doing England in 1986 by means fair and foul. The U.S. taking the field in 1994 in stonewash denim. The England vs. Croatia semi final in 2018. Brazil 1, Germany 7 in 2014. The Belgium game vs. the U.S. in 2014. And the Messi final in 2022. But... in terms of American football memories, 1999 is dominant.

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Don Steele: Will there be a “scoop there it is” bookplate?

RB: Don Steele, there will be MANY “SCOOP THERE IT IS” book plates and I will make sure you get that, you massive king. I wrote in the 2010 chapter about the early GFOP culture and that first ever live show we did. And of course Jason Kennedy, the original GFOP, whom we lost during Covid. You guys created the MiB culture and we will do anything for you.

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Perducci: Rog, a few WC related questions from me!

RB: GREAT QUESTION:

Perducci: Not Bruce catching strays. Thanks for your answer, that 2014 team was a lot of fun.

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Rob: Rog, what is your in-game note-taking technique — Voice notes? Phone notes? Laptop? Yellow legal pad? — from which your brilliant WC and PL game summaries are built? Can’t wait for the new book!!

RB: Google docs. I just watch and it feels like I am in stream of consciousness, like “Slum Dog Millionaire.” Watching football makes my brain ping and I just write those notes down. It is probably my most energizing experience in the week. The only thing that is like it is Friday night dinner with my family, or a long walk with my dog.

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Gunnersaurus: Has the writing experience for this book changed compared to your previous ones? Was there anything about this book that was particularly challenging or something about it that made it special?

RB: The process was very like the one for my memoir, “(Re)Born in the USA.” It was just trying to go to that place in my head where memory lives. I don’t have many strengths. I forget A LOT in the present day. But I have a crazy vivid long-term memory. My best friend Jamie Glassman laughs at the stories I retell — he is like, "That is story number 97 that you retell on the regs." He just shouts out numbers to prevent me from retelling them for the 1,000th time. But when I write, I tap into them, and it is like I just go back to that time and place... 11-year-old Rog, 15-year-old Rog, whatever. It is very out of body.

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Don Steele: Is the couple whose wedding you met Dave-o at still married?

RB: HA, that is in the book in deep detail. That chapter ends like this, "Michael and I had no idea in the moment how much that promise would transform our futures, just as the happy couple had no idea their marriage was doomed and would end in divorce."

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Rob: This community has gotten me through the last decade. Thanks for the kind tone you set!!

RB: THIS MEANS THE WORLD. This is why we do it. Because you lift the shit out of us too. We are living in a time of chaos and challenge. This community I hope is bringing some joy and sense of connection to you all. So it is amazing to hear it.

That is it, back to the Premier League football again. Thank you for your support. I hope this book brings you joy. I end it with this:

“However, the older I become, rather than becoming disenchanted with football because of the growing ugliness which often swamps it, I have come to love it more. Simply because the pure joy at the heart of the game remains alive despite it all. And so, the feelings I experience from watching it have become all the more powerful because their emotional weight and the sense of electric connection it provides to the rest of the world are ever more precious in today’s world. I wish that on you. When the whistle goes, and the ball is kicked, may you experience that sense of anticipation, hope, and possibility. The feelings of being alive, of your heartbeat syncing with the rest of the world, watching transcendent, pure moments that can drive out darkness and let in light.” 🍻