To the (Olympic) Football 🇺🇸🥇

Hail GFOP!

I type from Vancouver with fingers filled with gratitude after an immense night storytelling the Wrexham journey live on stage with so many of the players who have lived it and made it real. A corner of Van City pulsated as if we were actually in North Wales celebrating a Wrexham promotion at the STōK Cae Ras itself. At a time when the world is dark and full of terrors, to celebrate the Wrexham story with so many of the fans who have lived each alchemic step of the odyssey was a deliriously uplifting experience. 

There were so many highlights from the night: Elliot Lee talking poetically about what it was like for his Dad to watch him score big goals, young goalkeeper Arthur Okwono explaining why someone dons the gloves in the first place (to enjoy pissing people off), and Ollie Palmer re-living his time attempting to direct the movie on the Deadpool set. The entire night – which included time with that remarkably empathetic manager Phil Parkinson as well as Posh Yao Ming, Humphrey Ker, can be found on our YouTube here.  

Above all, to raise a glass with so many of the traveling Wrexham fans was an uplifting experience. I was on the incredible “Fearless in Devotion” podcast this week, and one of the hosts, Tim Edwards, came up with an incredibly moving line when he said, “I used to wear my Wrexham kit in defiance, and now I wear it in elation.” That’s a beautiful human journey and it all describes the emotions I experienced up on stage last night. We are so grateful to all at STōK for making it happen. The telling of a journey that is part football, part epic Greek poem. Sports as written by Sophocles. To be able to cover it on the regs with Tomi Caws is the honor of a lifetime. To more. Up the Town. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇨🇦

b. With the Premier League teams taking over the United States, we are also gearing up for the season ahead. Yesterday afternoon we had the honor of filming with Edu, Arsenal’s sporting director, who was really reflective on the lessons of the last two seasons. We are filming a ton in the next two weeks and cannot wait to bring you so many conversations with the characters who will fill our screens for the next eight months like a footballing House of Dragons. 

c. Quick word on Vancouver. WHAT A CITY. I love it here so much and wish I could spend more time wandering around this truly stunning region. Originally just a small sawmilling settlement, blown up by its status as the western terminus of the first trans-Canada railway, named in honor of the English navigator George Vancouver, and now just a shining burst of really thoughtful living. One of the people I met described it as the “Sugar Ray Robinson” of cities – a welterweight which punches way above its weight. I will admit, I did imagine there would be soccer-spy drones buzzing all over the place and was strangely disappointed. But the Tagine at the magnificent Medina Cafe more than made up for it.

d. I am so proud of all the content we are putting out on The Women’s Game covering the Women’s Olympics which kicked off yesterday afternoon in such fine style. More below. But subscribe to TWG on YouTube and set notifications to on, so you can see whenever we go live. 

2. To the Olympic Football 🇺🇸🥇

a. USWNT: “I want you to put the word out there, that we back up”

The Emma Hayes-era began on a confidence-building note of relief and full-throated joy with an Olympics group stage opening game rout of Zambia. For all of their vaunted transition game, the Copper Queens left so much space for the United States to charge into, from the very first minute, the game felt like it was us against our greatest recent demon: A lack of composure and clinicality in front of goal. Lindsey Horan missed early, Sophia Smith hit a chance right at the keeper, the crossbar denied us twice, but in the 17th minute, relief. Trinity Rodman stepped up and unfurled some wizard filth. A moment that felt less like a goal, more akin to a demon being exorcized.  Mal Swanson then stepped up to deliver two goals inside 66 seconds – the first, a move of stunning collective teamplay. Can you imagine what emotions must have been flowing through her veins in the wake of the second? After the agony of 343 days out with injury, three surgeries, one World Cup missed, to return to tournament play and score two goals in two minutes. May they be the first of many on a journey to Glory.

The United States had an xG of just under five courtesy of 27 shots on goal. This is Emma Hayes Ball and we playing it. Sterner tests await Sunday against a more potent Germany but feels so good to watch Mal Swanson soar, and Trinity Rodman deliver Wizard Filth. May this win be the first of many to come. No Sleep Til Paris!

ii. Commiserations to Zambia's Women, a talent-soaked team who deserve so much better from their Federation than to be left with head coach Bruce Mwape while an investigation into his sexual misconduct is ongoing. Protect your Players. To better days ahead for the Copper Queens. 🇿🇲

Next Up: 

USWNT v. Germany Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, USA/Peacock 🇺🇸🇩🇪

USWNT v. Australia Wednesday, 1 p.m. ET, USA/Peacock 🇺🇸🇳🇿

More: USWNT find their goals at last.

And: Emma Hayes realistic about USWNT work needed to get back on top of world. What she said. 

We are so proud of the work happening at The Women’s Game right now. Editor-in-chief (and World Cup Champion and Olympic Medalist) Sam Mewis and our team are working ‘round the clock to bring you complete coverage of this tournament. WHAT A LINE-UP OF TALENT. From social media (Twitter, Insta, TikTok); to preview and post-match Pods; to special YouTube videos; to a newsletter, let The Women’s Game be your home for Olympics football coverage. 

Our Early Kickoff Podcast is also covering the women’s and the men’s Olympic football (as well as the Transfer Window!). Drops every day at 6 a.m. SUBSCRIBE HERE.

And talking of the transfer window, we Pod with the MiB Media Network’s Fab Romano next week. Send all of your transfer window questions HERE. 

b. USMNT: “Well. There goes that dream”

Our young USMNT U-23 team returned to Olympic action on Wednesday for the first time in 16 years. The wait has been long. The anticipation was high. The performance was flat and deflating as they suffered a 3-0 defeat to hosts and favorites France, in Marseille.

It was 0-0 at halftime after the Americans held Thierry Henry’s discombobulated charges at bay. The second half was a different story as the U.S. boys were sunk by moments of individual skill and their own lack of focus. Arsenal’s old dear Lacazette let fly from 30 yards out catching the goalkeeper flat footed. I shouted at the TV, but then Michael Olise cut inside and lashed a trademark poem past the keeper to finish off the game. That kind of quality. That kind of confidence. A goal so stunning, you can only admire it, amidst the pain.

Let us not hit the panic button yet: Djordje Mihailovic, John Tolkin and Paxten Aaronson all had chances in this match. Two games remain. starting with Saturday's encounter with New Zealand (Who beat Guinea 2-1) back in Marseille. A win there would leave the U.S. well-positioned to advance to the knockout stage by beating Guinea on Tuesday in its final first round game. A deep run at these Olympics is crucial for MLS where so much of the talent is drawn from. All is still possible. 

ii. Talking of Great Americans. AC Milan continue to journey across the USA: Catch Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah and their teammates as they face Manchester City at Yankee Stadium in New York City on July 27, Real Madrid at Soldier Field in Chicago, and FC Barcelona at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore as part of the DIRECTV Soccer Champions Tour 2024. For more information and tickets to each match, please visit www.SoccerChampionsTour.com.

And: Pulisic on Jimmy Fallon was quite something.

Next Up:

USMNT v. New Zealand Saturday, 1 p.m. ET, USA/Peacock 🇺🇸🇳🇿

USMNT v. Guinea Tuesday, 1 p.m. ET, USA/Peacock 🇺🇸🇬🇳

iii. The USMNT Managerial search has reached the stage where we are letting the elite football world know we can pay big money.

PrizePicks: Best PP since Phil Parkinson

Charlie Kipp Writes: As the games in Paris kick off, and the Premier League quietly inches closer to our lives - let’s take a look ahead at some of my favorite trends for this upcoming club football season. From tackles, to goals, to my personal favorite - passes completed, PrizePicks has you covered from every imaginable angle (not unlike Jordan Pickford) when it comes to making picks on all the major statistical categories in the football world.

This upcoming season, we are going back to basics. To the place it all began, to quote Wrexham ally Lil’ Jon: Shots, Shots, Shots. Look, is it fun to get cute, try to reinvent the wheel week over week with all of the fun and wild categories that our friends at PP have on offer? Obviously. But when it comes to winning, which we are in the business of ‘attempting to do’ - it certainly does not help to overthink things. Last season, we hit over 60% of our predictions in one category and one category only: shots. Not necessarily on target, not that find the back of the net - but shots, in all shapes and sizes. You can often find squares set from the 2-4 shot range, or less, and THAT my friends is where we will live this season. You have been warned. The winning is imminent, the season starts soon. Go download PrizePicks now with the link below and prepare for victory. 💪

If you haven’t joined PrizePicks, CLICK HERE and use code MiB for a first deposit match up to $100.

3. More Football, Did Ya Say?

a. Ukrainian Football manager Yuriy Vernydub: ‘I am still a soldier. When something happens, I have to go to my squadron’

b. What now for Everton? Again in Limbo after American Roma owner pulls out of takeover. Hello Darkness my old friend.

c. Winner's circle: South Carolina's Dawn Staley and USWNT's Emma Hayes are 'two of a kind'. 

d. London Mayor admits playing big game abroad is “inevitable”.

AND: Premier League in the USA

Chelsea v. Celtic Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN +

Man City v. AC Milan Saturday, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+

Arsenal v. Manchester United Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+

WIN YOUR VERY OWN CRYSTAL PALACE KIT 🦅

The GFOPs at Crystal Palace are America-bound and want to help us outfit one of you with your very own kit. Want to enter? All you have to do is answer this one simple question: what size kit would you wear? (We won’t ask what number, we know it’s Chris Richards.)

Palace will first travel to Annapolis, MD to take on Wolves this coming Wednesday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Fans in Maryland — or traveling in from around the nation and world — can see the full slate of events scheduled HERE.

The Eagles will then journey to Tampa, FL where they will face London rivals West Ham on Saturday, 3rd August at 7 p.m. EST at Raymond James Stadium — home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tickets for BOTH matches can be found RIGHT HERE. Wishing nothing but the best for Palace and their traveling supporters. 🦅

4. Not Football, and All the Better for It

i. Mathematicians Are Suddenly Rethinking the Equal Sign - The simple symbol we’ve known forever may be fundamentally flawed. Give it a rest NERDS.

ii. The 50 best songs of the 1990s. Only 1/50th Tracy Chapman, so not a definitive list.

iii. Heartbreaking and beautiful: NYT writer takes her dad — who has Alzheimer's —  to recreate his beloved trip to Europe.

iv. Old books can be loaded with poison. Some collectors love the thrill. I think "Toxic Green" might be my new favorite color. 

v. "To understand Priscila Barbosa—the pluck, the ambition, the sheer balls—we should start at the airport. We should start at the precise moment on April 24, 2018, when she concluded, I’m fucked." Priscilla, the Queen of Rideshare Mafia.

vi. Pablo Escobar's hippos are f-ing shit up in a Colombian jungle. Man couldn't have just raised Labradoodles or something.

vii. Lives up to the headline: The Bullet in My Mother’s Head. 

viii. Emma Carey: The skydiver who survived a 14,000-foot fall. Does for skydiving what "Into Thin Air" did for Everest. 

ix. The backstory of Glen Powell's elite embroidered Twisters jacket. Glen Powell getting so much positive attention he might just be our next VP. 

x. I loved this song this week. For obvious reasons: Vancouver by Kingfishr.

xi. I read this book: My! My! ABBA Through the Ages by Giles Smith. I don’t talk enough about my love of ABBA and just how much they shaped my early formative years. This book captures that love. Giles Smith is a writer who, it seems, adored the ABBA Museum in Stockholm, and ABBA Voyage as much as I did. This is a must-read for any fellow ABBA traveler. 

That is it for today. We are filming with Olympic track icon turned Premier League speed coach, Michael Johnson, the inimitable Fabrizio Romano and more next week. I have to run to the airport and speed back to my family and my dog, who just had a summer shear and now looks like my hair twin. Come and join us live right after the US Women face Germany, until then, let’s not take a second of watching football together for granted. 

Big Love. 

Courage.

Go! Go! USA!

Up the Town!

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