18 Comments

Have you ever considered pursuing a sponsorship from whichever razor brand you shave your head with? It's always so immaculate.

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Hey read within the last week that Qatar hotels are declining bookings from LGBTQ fans and today Amnesty International is calling for restitution for abuses against migrant workers. What kind of effect do you think this will have on the success of the World Cup and the fan experience?

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Ferreira is the lone central forward on USMNT call up? Could Haji be used there? But, more importantly, will GB consider Weah Or Pulisic there?

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If as you have reported Cincinnati and Nashville do not get World Cup games, that would leave the vast middle section of the country with only Kansas City as a host city. Once again it seems like the coastal areas of the country are preferred. Would this mean Kansas City is the US Manuas of the 2026 World Cup? Or would that be reserved for Edmonton.

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May 20, 2022·edited May 20, 2022

Hi Grant,

Thanks for the CONCACAF hat lead, I plan on having one on my head before the W tournament this summer!

I actually have a completely unrelated question this week though—can you give us an update on the Ukraine national team and it’s preparations for playing Scotland?

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Hey Grant, not really a question, but I’ve been disappointed with the lack of follow up by your peers. Chris Seitz had an extremely damning Twitter thread showing former DC United Manager Hernan Losada to have dangerously unhealthy practices leading to mental and physical damage. I’d love to see a journalist get in touch with him and perhaps one of our outstanding USWNT players who have also discussed body image struggles and get this conversation out into the light. The potential influence on soccer playing teens could be immense. Thanks!

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You wrote that you heard about 5 MLS teams are interested in NWSL expansion along with 2 independent groups. Which markets out of all of them interests you most in terms of expansion and why?

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What do you think will be the big tactical trend for this year’s men’s World Cup? I remember in Russia that some teams like Iceland had success in a low block while France was very counterattacking.

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How relevant is the Malik Tillman news in the immediate term? Is it likely he’ll jump straight to the senior USMNT team or is he more likely to spend time with the U-23s? And how much goalscoring hype does he warrant, especially considering the USMNT’s forward situation?

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The Sounders appear to be the first qualifier for the next World Club Cup. Might you consider filing (in person) dispatches from the five other play in games for the privilege of facing Seattle?

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US Soccer's equal pay CBA deals have received quite a bit of coverage in the mainstream press. What are your thoughts? Did the men really have to give up a lot? Is it realistic to think that other countries will follow suit?

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When traveling what are some of your favorite resources to experience and explore the communities you visit? For example, the premier league used to have a website dedicated to finding supporters bars in the US. When covid hit the site no longer worked and now has been removed completely. This was a great resource when traveling to find places to watch matches or meet new people.

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Do you think there is any chance that FIFA leadership can be more gender balanced and that this would lead to Iran and other nations with no women’s teams being band by FIFA due to there policy on women fans in the stadium and women players.

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Will Gregg Berhalter go the 2018 Gareth Southgate path and pick the players in the best form closest to finalizing the World Cup roster or are there players based on past performance that will make the roster regardless of form?

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Hi, Grant -- earlier this week Meg Linehan at The Athetlc had this to say in regards to NWSL expansion: "Philadelphia has its own challenges, as it’s technically within NJ/NY Gotham FC’s market radius. Gotham has played one match at Subaru Park already, with another planned for this summer."

While I've been supporting Gotham and went to their Subaru Park match, it's troubling that the entire City of Philadelphia finds itself within their market area. Can Philly overcome what I'm assuming is a contractual obstacle to ever get an NWSL team of its own if there's ownership interest?

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What club team would be a good fit for Pulisic next season?

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Sunil Gulati. For many years, he was American soccer's walking conflict of interest -- member of FIFA executive committee, president of US Soccer and an executive with the New England Revolution. Now that he has moved on from all of these positions, how do you assess his impact on our game and culture?

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Do domestic titles really matter anymore? When I look at the standings for the top 4 leagues, I’m looking at who gets the top 4 spots to go to the Champions League, and barely noticing the battle for the top spot.

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