Chris and I will do a podcast discussion after every US game (and every other matchday during the tournament). Sadly, Fox is preventing Landon from joining us.
Should be a blast. The only bummer is we aren't planning to do any video work together. Looked into it, but the company we were talking to couldn't get it sold for some reason.
Grant, will you have sort of a preview column? I don't want to say "predictions" but maybe a few countries you think will do well, a few you think will flame out, some breakout stars who will be way overbought in January, etc. This will expressly NOT be used for gambling purposes.
Yeah, I'll do a predictions column next week after I arrive in Doha. Probably should have quit doing them after my first time in 1998 when I predicted France to win in SI mag. It's been all downhill ever since!
Grant you’ve been working on this for such a long time. You’ve covered so many critical stories and raised so many concerns as well as covering the US and world soccer (football/futbol). Have a great trip, be safe look forward to your coverage
Looking forward to your coverage Grant! If it's safe to share, will you be trying to meet up with some of the migrant workers you interviewed previously? Or if not directly meeting with them, do you plan on covering the off-the-pitch issues some more while you're there or just sticking to the football this time?
What is the deal with Gab Marcotti? He's an Italian with an American accent who lives in Blighty. I think I read somewhere that he is a UPenn grad. Sometimes I think I detect a Philly accent, but I'm not sure. Where in the US did he grow up?
Gabriele is one my oldest friends in soccer media. Wonderful guy and great at his work. He's from an Italian family, went to high school in London and college at Penn. Also spent time growing up in Chicago, Warsaw, Milan and other places. Wears lots of Philadelphia Eagles gear.
USA games are the last of the day (except if we make i as runners up, then our R16 game is the early one) so will there be 3 thoughts *and* 5 thoughts at approximately the same time? That’s a lot of typing, Grant!
Ha! We'll see. You'll definitely get 3 Thoughts at the final whistle of the US games. I'll be writing the 5 thoughts on the other games as the day progresses. But now that I think of it, you might get one 8 Thoughts column at the end of the US games (which are always the last games of the day).
Grant, excited to see your coverage and learn about the Chat function, as I will be headed to Qatar myself on the 18th, for what will be my 5th World Cup! Not as impressive as you, but still nothing to sneeze at. (I too lived in the same pair of pants for 5 days straight down in South Africa, airline lost our luggage over Holland 😆).
Wow, I had no clue they don’t sell pants in either Poland or Ukraine! Hopefully Amazon delivers in Qatar.
Does anyone on Earth do pomposity like the Brits? What a slap of a comment! I have to admit I’ve never been there, so I don’t understand how deep that animosity runs in England, but you’d think they’d be more grateful. How soon they forget! If it wasn’t for us, they’d be speaking German today.
Have a great experience. I look forward to reading / hearing every word. Hope I can keep up!
I look forward to all of your reporting from Qatar! I am sure your input and thoughts will enhance my World Cup and USMNT fan experience.
What about podcast recaps of the US games with Witty, and maybe also Landon? Those recaps after US games during qualifying were always great.
Chris and I will do a podcast discussion after every US game (and every other matchday during the tournament). Sadly, Fox is preventing Landon from joining us.
I love the thought of you and those journos sharing an apartment in Doha. The four of you should team up for some content together. Would be awesome.
Should be a blast. The only bummer is we aren't planning to do any video work together. Looked into it, but the company we were talking to couldn't get it sold for some reason.
Grant, will you have sort of a preview column? I don't want to say "predictions" but maybe a few countries you think will do well, a few you think will flame out, some breakout stars who will be way overbought in January, etc. This will expressly NOT be used for gambling purposes.
Yeah, I'll do a predictions column next week after I arrive in Doha. Probably should have quit doing them after my first time in 1998 when I predicted France to win in SI mag. It's been all downhill ever since!
Hey, we all peak at some point...
Have a smooth trip [and remember that multiple pairs of pants are over rated - that's not true for underwear].
Thanks! I am sure there will be one fan at this tournament who wears one pair of underwear the whole time. I hope not to encounter him.
Grant you’ve been working on this for such a long time. You’ve covered so many critical stories and raised so many concerns as well as covering the US and world soccer (football/futbol). Have a great trip, be safe look forward to your coverage
Thanks Arul! I'm fired up for this.
Looking forward to your coverage Grant! If it's safe to share, will you be trying to meet up with some of the migrant workers you interviewed previously? Or if not directly meeting with them, do you plan on covering the off-the-pitch issues some more while you're there or just sticking to the football this time?
Safe travels!
Thanks! I still communicate on WhatsApp with some of the workers I spoke to there in February. Hoping to connect with at least one of them this time.
What is the deal with Gab Marcotti? He's an Italian with an American accent who lives in Blighty. I think I read somewhere that he is a UPenn grad. Sometimes I think I detect a Philly accent, but I'm not sure. Where in the US did he grow up?
Gabriele is one my oldest friends in soccer media. Wonderful guy and great at his work. He's from an Italian family, went to high school in London and college at Penn. Also spent time growing up in Chicago, Warsaw, Milan and other places. Wears lots of Philadelphia Eagles gear.
Hey Grant, I look forward to your insight. Watch your step and don't forget to hydrate. Go USA.
Thank you. Let's do this.
USA games are the last of the day (except if we make i as runners up, then our R16 game is the early one) so will there be 3 thoughts *and* 5 thoughts at approximately the same time? That’s a lot of typing, Grant!
Ha! We'll see. You'll definitely get 3 Thoughts at the final whistle of the US games. I'll be writing the 5 thoughts on the other games as the day progresses. But now that I think of it, you might get one 8 Thoughts column at the end of the US games (which are always the last games of the day).
Grant, excited to see your coverage and learn about the Chat function, as I will be headed to Qatar myself on the 18th, for what will be my 5th World Cup! Not as impressive as you, but still nothing to sneeze at. (I too lived in the same pair of pants for 5 days straight down in South Africa, airline lost our luggage over Holland 😆).
Fellow uni-pants wearer! The Chat function looks cool. A bit like a more thoughtful answer to today's Twitter. Congrats on your 5th!
Wow, I had no clue they don’t sell pants in either Poland or Ukraine! Hopefully Amazon delivers in Qatar.
Does anyone on Earth do pomposity like the Brits? What a slap of a comment! I have to admit I’ve never been there, so I don’t understand how deep that animosity runs in England, but you’d think they’d be more grateful. How soon they forget! If it wasn’t for us, they’d be speaking German today.
Have a great experience. I look forward to reading / hearing every word. Hope I can keep up!
Thank you! Hope you enjoy it.