The World Cup: The Beauty – and Ugliness – of Football

Exactly one week ago, all three co-hosts of the World Cup prevailed in their first games of the knockout phases and were happily about to play their round of 16 matches. And Austria – who made Santa Barbara their home base for the World Cup after having qualified to the tournament for the first time in 28 years – had yet to lose later that day. 

But first Canada went out in a blowout on Saturday, then Mexico lost by a single goal in one of more thrilling matches of the tournament on Sunday. The USA bowed out on Monday with what was either a shockingly subpar performance, or a stripping away of the veneer that the 2026 team was capable of making it to the last eight. 

Depressing stuff. But those losses were nothing in comparison to what also shockingly took place on Sunday when FIFA violated its own protocols in rescinding a suspension of the USA’s best player after intervention from the American presidential administration. 

That gave the lie to all of the visitors from around the world who had discovered how wonderful a country we have despite our deficiencies and arrogance, and it deflated the balloon of good feeling that had prevailed for more than two weeks, which began locally with Qatar partying into the wee hours at their tournament base at the Miramar after earning their first-ever point in the World Cup. There was so much fun in town at the bars on lower State and elsewhere, and all over the TV, from Norwegian fans’ huge swath of rowers, to the geniality on the pitch, in the stands and elsewhere. 

Anybody not moved by the unparalleled success of the side from the tiny island nation of Capo Verde – who almost took down top-seeded defending World Cup champions Argentina in an elimination game – lacks either a heart or access to a TV or the internet. Meanwhile, the USA’s victory on Saturday had been the most watched football game (yes, I’ve been converted; I don’t even know what soccer is anymore) in the nation’s history. 

Never a fan before, tuning in every day to the games brought me deep appreciation for the athleticism and artistry of the players, the architecture of attacks and defense, the collaboration required for every non-penalty kick score, and, finally, an understanding of why the world’s most popular sport is called “The Beautiful Game.” 

All of that joy and excitement was vaporized in moments by FIFA’s (and USA’s) actions, the tournament becoming just another example of corruption and influence. 

Maybe that’s a good thing. I spent far too much time watching football, so perhaps the downer day came at the right time for me to recover some perspective. On the other hand, maybe with the USA banished so convincingly by Belgium, the excitement and camaraderie can return as the World Cup winds down to its last eight games, ending in just 10 days. I hope so. 

LA28 Olympics

How incredibly lucky we are to have the next iteration of the only other world inclusive sporting event that can compete in popularity with the World Cup, namely the Summer Olympics heading to Los Angeles and environs in just two years? Round 2 of the ticket draw – with a refreshed inventory across all Olympic sports at a range of price at least for now far below what the football matches commanded – doesn’t happen until three days after the World Cup final. It’s also time for volunteer applications. 

Visit www.LA28.org

Speaking of the Olympics, the AVP beach volleyball league tour hits Long Beach this weekend, with former Olympic Champion Phil Dalhausser, who laid waste to the world partnered with Santa Barbara’s own Todd Rogers, still largely ruling the roost. And the U.S. Men’s National Volleyball Team is currently competing in the 2026 Volleyball Nations League, with four games in Chicago this week under Head Coach Karch Kiraly, the Santa Barbara-raised legend and still the consensus pick for the best player indoor or on beach of all time. (I still can’t get over the fact that I play on the same sand as Karch, including some 30 years ago with the guy who first coached him, his dad Laszlo Kiraly). 

I Feel a Draft 

UCSB baseball pitcher Jackson Flora, who compiled a perfect record and an ERA barely over one run per nine innings, is widely expected to go within the first five picks in the Major League Baseball draft that takes place July 11-12. Some prognosticators have Flora headed to the San Francisco Giants at No. 4, which would represent the second consecutive year a UCSB pitcher went in the top 5 to a team in California after Tyler Bremner was drafted at No. 2 by the Angels last summer. Most handicappers still have UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky – who we got to see in person at UCSB when he demolished a first inning pitch for one of the longest homers at the stadium – going first, or at worst second. Exciting stuff. 

More Santa Barbara-based Baseball

The Santa Barbara Foresters are marching on toward possibly securing their 11th National Baseball Congress World Series championship – the first 10 came in 20 seasons – for the first time since 2022. The team boasted a 19-4 record through Monday night, including another walk-off victory on Sunday, which was truly a walk-off as the winning run scored on a bases loaded free pass. Just 10 more days remain in the season before the boys – many of whom will likely hear their names called on Draft Day in the next three years down the road – head off to Wichita for the World Series on July 23, including home games at Eddie Matthews Field at Santa Barbara High School on July 10, 12, and 17-19.  

Visit www.santabarbaraforesters.org