Tootfinder

Sources: FIFA will allow TV broadcasters to cut away to ads during the World Cup's three-minute "hydration breaks" that will split each half of matches (Henry Bushnell/The Athletic)
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7081341/2026…

FIFA to allow cut-away TV commercials during 2026 World Cup ‘hydration breaks’
Matches at the 2026 World Cup will feature more TV ads than usual, with FIFA opening the door after instituting a blanket water break edict

🏃‍♂️ Is the World Cup bump real? MLS is going to find out
#sports

Is the World Cup bump real? MLS is going to find out
MLS stakeholders want to turn the interest in this summer’s North American World Cup into ‘rocket fuel’ for the league. Are those realistic expectations?

A look at the World Cup plans of The Guardian and NYT's The Athletic, including dedicated newsletters, and the single-issue independent magazine Golden Goal (Neel Dhanesha/Nieman Lab)
https://www.niemanlab.org/2026/05/newsl…

Newsletters, live coverage, a one-time magazine: The World Cup is becoming a testbed for journalism experiments
"It's one of those huge, gigantic things that sort of go beyond sports. It's like a life-measurement mechanism."

SEN Football
Anchored by Adam Peacock alongside Mark Bosnich, you will get all the latest EPL, A-League, the Women's Asian Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup covered...
Great Australian Pods Podcast Directory: https://www.greataustralianpods.com/the-global-game/ …

Trump to POLITICO: "I really don't care" if Iran plays in World Cup (Sophia Cai/Politico)
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/03/iran-trump-world-cup-00808608
http://www.memeorandum.com/260303/p96#a260303p96

TransLink unveils game plan for FIFA World Cup 2026 Vancouver
Transit system built for major events, ready for the world’s biggest
With 100 days until the first whistle of FIFA World Cup 2026 Vancouver, TransLink is rolling out a tournament-scale transit plan to move fans, visitors, and residents across Metro Vancouver, while keeping everyday trips reliable for locals.

College basketball All-Americans unveiled; Bill Self returning to Kansas; World Cup schedule, predictions

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketba

Europeans: do you plan to boycott the World Cup/FIFA?
Yes
No
Partially (please comment)
What’s a World Cup?

Amnesty International
and dozens of U.S. civil and human rights groups issued a
“World Cup travel advisory” Thursday,
warning tournament visitors of
“rising authoritarianism and increasing violence” in the United States
during Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement.

Amnesty International warns World Cup visitors of US authoritarianism
Amnesty International and U.S. civil rights groups have issued a “World Cup travel advisory," warning visitors about “rising authoritarianism and increasing violence" in the U.S. under President Donald Trump's immigration policies. The advisory Thursday highlights potential arbitrary entry denials and invasive searches. It cites aggressive immigration enforcement in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago, which have led to accusations of racial profiling. Tourism officials have condemned the a…

FIFA faces a broadcast crisis for the 2026 World Cup; a Reliance-Disney JV offered just $20M for India rights, and FIFA has yet to announce a China deal (Reuters)
https://www.reuters.com/business/media-tel

Iran's soccer president casts doubt on World Cup participation following strikes (Aaron Pellish/Politico)
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/01/iran-doubt-soccer-world-cup-strikes-00806510
http://www.memeorandum.com/260301/p72#a260301p72

Please don't exaggerate: while the most expensive 2026 football world cup final seat are being advertised at $2.3m each, peanuts if you are a billionaire, the cheapest (top row, behind goal) are on sale for a smidgeon less than $11k.
Even so, still completely daft prices.
https://www.

I wont be buying any FIFA tickets for this World Cup. I'll watch in the comfort of a sports bar.

👕 How USMNT players designed the boldest kits in generations for World Cup 2026
#sports

How USMNT players designed the boldest kits in generations for World Cup 2026
The US men’s national team hated their 2022 World Cup look. Four years later, they were given control over what they will be wearing this year on home soil

Reading through a NYTimes article on the new 2026 USMNT World Cup kit designs. Noting that the design seems to give the men credit for the USWNT’s World Cup wins by placing 4 stars above the jersey crest, hmm…
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7120620/2

Trump Seems Intent on Tanking the World Cup #worldcup

Trump Seems Intent on Tanking the World Cup
In a sane world, there would be attempts to rein him in before he mars the most-watched sporting event on the planet.

Tiger Woods takes indefinite leave; Basketball Hall of Fame reveals five inductees; World Cup field set

https://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/tiger-woods-golf-m…

In June and July, Canada and Mexico will each host 13 #WorldCup games,
compared to 78 for the United States, which will organize every game from the quarterfinals onward.
"It’s not right," Blatter said.
"By putting the three together, one would have thought they would have roughly the same share of the pie."
He added that such a disparity "is not in the spir…

Former FIFA president pans mixing soccer with politics, blasts U.S. ahead of World Cup | CBC Sports
In an exclusive interview, former FIFA president Sepp Blatter blasted the United States administration's 'defamatory' policies and the 'crumbs' given to Canada for the 2026 World Cup, which the country is co-hosting with the U.S. and Mexico.

Meet Paolo Zampolli, the Man at the Center of Trump’s Biggest Scandals – Mother Jones
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/04/meet-paolo-zampolli-trump-world-cup-ice-epstein/

Report: ITV won't show ads during the World Cup's three-minute hydration breaks despite FIFA giving media partners permission to do so during the 2026 contest (Steve McCaskill/SportsPro)
https://www.sportspro.com/broadcast-ott/fifa-world-cup-drinks…

Heck this is shiny; got an apparently full set of 6 of these with plates in our loft. The mark seems to be for the Czeck maker Haas & Czjzek, possibly pre world war 2. I can't find this exact pattern online.
#pottery

NFL stadiums must scrub all branding for FIFA's World Cup. One roof got an exemption https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7141779/2026/03/24/mercedes-benz-stadium-roof-logo-atlanta-fifa-world-cup/

A newly expanded policy from the Trump administration could require travelers from five World Cup-qualified countries to front a bond of up to $15,000 in order to enter the United States for the tournament.
Visa bonds operate like security deposits:
a one-time payment meant to be refunded after a traveler exits the US under the terms of their visa.
The amounts generally run between $5,000 and $15,000, and are required for passport holders from certain countries to enter the…

US unable to 'fight every drone threat' at FIFA World Cup games: Official (Anna Giaritelli/Washington Examiner)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/national-security/4469150/us-unable-fight-every-drone-threat-fifa-world-cup/
http://www.memeorandum.com/260224/p99#a260224p99

California's jet fuel stockpile hits two-year low as war strangles oil supplies - @…
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-04-24/california-jet-fuel-inventory-dips-to-two-year-low-as-war-strangles-global-oil-supply
“People don’t know exactly how this is going to escalate,” he said. “There’s a huge black cloud over the sea for the World Cup and the travel slump that we’re seeing is all linked to this oil shortage.”

Hearing today about summer interns struggling to find any kind of housing at all because their work city is hosting World Cup games. )-:

Sad to hear about the shooting and death of a Canadian in Teotihuacšn Mexico.
Definitely not a good year for Mexico tourism, which is a shame as it is a beautiful place. I hope local residents stay safe as well
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crm1rg3ydkvo

FIFA and YouTube partner for the 2026 World Cup; media partners will be able to stream the first 10 minutes of every match and select full matches on YouTube (Seth Vertelney/USA Today)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/socc

FIFA partners will be able to stream select World Cup games on YouTube
FIFA has announced a partnership with YouTube that will allow media partners and creators to expand their content ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

#USpol #fifa

Why One World Cup Stadium Is the Exception to FIFA’s Rule https://www.nytimes.com/video/the-athletic/100000010835099/why-one-world-cup-stadium-is-the-exception-to-fifas-rule.html

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is reversing job cuts that Kristi Noem,
the former homeland security secretary,
had overseen before she was fired last month.
FEMA has reinstated 14 people who had signed a public letter that became known as the "Katrina Declaration",
which warned that the agency risked repeating mistakes learned during Hurricane Katrina in 2005,
said Abby McIlraith, one of the reinstated workers and an emergency management speci…

FEMA Is Reversing Job Cuts Made Under Kristi Noem
The agency said staff members who had been let go or placed on administrative leave were now needed to prepare for hurricanes and the World Cup.

ICE will be at the World Cup, director says (Herb Scribner/Axios)
https://www.axios.com/2026/02/10/ice-2026-fifa-world-cup-lyons-trump
http://www.memeorandum.com/260210/p154#a260210p154

@… I think you’re probably right, though the article makes no mention of the women’s team 😬
edit: this article seems to agree with that assumption too

WADA to weigh barring Trump, US officials from LA Olympics and possibly World Cup over unpaid dues (Eddie Pells/Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/trump-world-cup-olympics-wada-beb0969108b526b4bb7433acc90118c9
http://www.memeorandum.com/260313/p127#a260313p127

Trump says it is not 'appropriate' for Iran soccer team to be at World Cup (Finya Swai/Politico)
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/12/trump-iran-world-cup-participation-00825383
http://www.memeorandum.com/260312/p77#a260312p77

Route 26
Introducing Route 26, a podcast speaking to extraordinary football lovers about their personal journeys and the World Cup moments that changed their lives...
Great Australian Pods Podcast Directory: https://www.greataustralianpods.com/route-26/

New Amtrak trains coming soon to Pacific Northwest, but not in time for World Cup
Summer capacity in the region will remain limited due to a railcar shortage. New trainsets are still expected later in the year.
first new Airo train in revenue service will happen on the Amtrak Cascades line in late summer or fall.
In total, eight new trainsets, two new locomotives, & a spare cab car are coming to the Pacific Northwest. Amtrak placed a large order for new trains in 2021…

I want every team competing in a tournament to get at least one win, especially weak teams. In that spirit, I wish Namibia, Oman, and Canada win their respective last games in #T20WorldCup #Cricket. 🏏
My #wish has nothing to do with #Pakistan and #Australia teams. 🤫
https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-series/11253/icc-mens-t20-world-cup-2026/points-table

WADA is weighing a rule to bar Trump and US officials from major events. Can it really do that? (Eddie Pells/Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/trump-wada-olympics-world-cup-624d1e60db9189340d772c4602123998
http://www.memeorandum.com/260317/p116#a260317p116

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on KEXP's #VarietyMix
Shakira feat. Freshlyground:
🎵 Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)
#Shakira #Freshlyground
https://eddiebarnesrhythm.bandcamp.com/track/shakira-ft-freshlyground-waka-waka-this-time-for-africa-the-official-2010-fifa-world-cup-clean-127-track-44

Man, did #India smoke #NewZealand in the T20 World Cup final. 😲🏏🏆🇮🇳
Plus, the first team to win the cup:
- at home
- back-to-back
- three times
And Bumrah's bowling: 4/15 in 4 overs? In a T20? Finals no less? That's test match figures. Just unreal.
#Cricket #sports #T20 #accomplishment #WorldCup