Fútbol with Grant Wahl

Fútbol with Grant Wahl

Share this post

Fútbol with Grant Wahl
Fútbol with Grant Wahl
Premium: One World Cup Point ... And Two Points Dropped
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
World Cup 2022

Premium: One World Cup Point ... And Two Points Dropped

A late Wales equalizing penalty felt like a gut punch to a U.S. team on the verge of a statement-making win.

Grant Wahl's avatar
Grant Wahl
Nov 22, 2022
∙ Paid
41

Share this post

Fútbol with Grant Wahl
Fútbol with Grant Wahl
Premium: One World Cup Point ... And Two Points Dropped
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
23
Share
Representing the USMNT for the first time in more than a year, Tim Ream was solid for a back line hampered by one big mistake (Artwork by Dan Leydon for GrantWahl.com)

AL RAYYAN, Qatar — In the days before the U.S.’s World Cup opener against Wales, defender Walker Zimmerman couldn’t help but think of the tantalizing opportunity that lay before his team in his country’s first appearance since 2014 at the world's biggest sporting event. The chance to make history comes ever so rarely. Eight years had passed since the last time the USMNT made the World Cup. For Wales, it was 64.

Zimmerman recognized all of that. Being on the ground at the World Cup feels like you’re at the center of the universe. Billions of people are watching the same thing at the same time. The possibilities are limitless.

“We grew up watching Miracle and Rudy and these iconic moments in these teams, and you’re thinking to yourself, This could be the next movie that they’re talking about. That’s the opportunity that we have,” Zimmerman told me in a one-on-one interview the day before the game.


GrantWahl.com is reader-supported. Free and paid subscriptions are available. This is how I make a living, and quality journalism and traveling to Qatar require resources. The best way to support me and my work is by taking out a paid subscription now.

Upgrade to Paid

Give a gift subscription


This post is for paid subscribers

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Grant Wahl
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More