Morning Buzz

The USMNT’s run at the World Cup “came to a deflating conclusion” Monday night in a 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 before another sold out crowd of 66,925 at Seattle Stadium. The Belgians have now “earned a date with Spain” in the quarterfinals on Friday at L.A. Stadium. What was “arguably the biggest singular sporting event in Seattle history” will be “remembered as a dud for the home side and a massive missed opportunity for the men’s national team to take the next step in advancing its profile and, with it, the sport” in the U.S. The “opportunity was there” for the U.S. to make the quarterfinals for only the second time in the modern era of the World Cup and first time since 2002. The “distractions of the 36 hours leading into the match should have helped the Americans” because it meant that F Folarin Balogun would be on the field. The suspension of Balogun’s one-game ban for a red card “sparked international controversy and debate.” But “instead of benefiting the U.S., it seemed mostly to spark the Belgians” (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/6).

USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino said that his team “didn’t live up to its potential.” Pochettino: “We didn’t show our real quality as a team.” USMNT D Tim Ream hopes that “tomorrow -- or a week from now” -- the team “can celebrate the influence its World Cup run made on the sport and the country” (L.A. TIMES, 7/6).

As the “rest of the soccer world wrung its hands over the consequences of political interference with what happened on the pitch,” the U.S. “remained unapologetic.” Pochettino said before the game, “In the end, it’s not that we’re victims. But we’re not the bad guys here” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/6). Balogun “seemed to understand why the decision to suspend his one-game ban became such a big deal internationally.” Balogun’s teammates also “downplayed the distraction around his situation, insisting it didn’t get in the way of their preparation” (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/6).

This loss was a “painful reckoning for a team that hoped to boost the sport but instead failed to shake a quarter-century of stagnation” since former USMNT F Landon Donovan led the Americans to the 2002 quarterfinals. Since then, the U.S. has lost four times in the Round of 16. A “heralded generation” led by F Christian Pulisic, MF Tyler Adams and MF Weston McKennie “only partially accomplished their mission of lifting soccer’s stature closer to that of the NFL, MLB and the NBA” (AP, 7/7).

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The USMNT’s Round of 16 loss to Belgium Monday night “only reinforced the idea that it’s a perpetual also-ran” in the World Cup “despite any strides it may have felt like the United States made in the soccer ranks throughout this tournament.” USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino said, “We were not the same team during the tournament when we showed our quality. Very bad day.” The whole ordeal “serves fans with one giant helping of ambivalence.” On one hand, this team “has inspired a level of patriotism American men’s soccer rarely enjoys.” Yes, it had won its group before, and yes, it had advanced in the knockout round. On the “other hand, that breakthrough this team’s fans have been waiting for still feels like an ocean away.” The USMNT “just isn’t there yet” (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/6).

In the “most anticipated game in U.S. soccer history, the Americans failed to match the moment, falling flat on their faces, spoiling a magical run with an embarrassing splat.” This was a team, “for all of its progress, that was not ready for prime time.” It was a “brutal reminder of the ground the U.S. still has to cover” after falling to 1-5 all-time in the Round of 16. Everything was “set up for the U.S. to play its best, and save for the last 20 minutes, it was anything but” (DENVER POST, 7/6).

Two “very different feelings swept over” the USMNT, the Seattle Stadium crowd and the “millions watching across an enthralled nation” Monday evening. There was the “immense disappointment” of the loss to Belgium, but there “were also happy memories of what the U.S. achieved over the past month.” They will depart the World Cup, though, “with the lingering duality that a good tournament ended with a mighty thud.” For “all their gains, the Americans found themselves back where they often are, leaving the competition at the same juncture” (YAHOO SPORTS, 7/7).

The USMNT’s “weaknesses and depth were exposed on numerous occasions by a Belgium side who roasted the American defense.” This generation “may still turn out to be golden,” but the “jeweler’s loupe is getting a real workout at the moment.” The “future remains bright and there will be time to discuss that,” but “pulling out the polish tonight is so unnecessary and, honestly, a massive eye roll” (NBCSPORTS.com, 7/6).

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All three network mornings shows on Tuesday continued their prominent placement of the USMNT’s run in the World Cup despite it coming to an end after losing 4-1 to Belgium. “CBS Mornings” led off with coverage of the game, with Nate Burleson calling it a “sudden end to a history-making World Cup run.” Nicole Valdes reported live outside Seattle Stadium, noting many people believe this team “may have changed the future of soccer in the United States.” Former USMNT D Jimmy Conrad appeared in studio and said, “When the game got going, we were just a little bit behind it. I feel like you need players to be 7 or 8 out of 10, you need the majority of your team in that position to win any game of consequence. We had guys playing at 4 or 5.” He added, “Belgium was just better than us” (“CBS Mornings,” 7/7).

ABC’s “GMA” also led with the match, as Michael Strahan calling it the “end of the road for the U.S. at the World Cup.” Trevor Ault also reported live from Seattle and noted the U.S. “simply ran out of steam last night” (“GMA,” ABC, 7/7).

NBC’s “Today” touched on the game at the outset of the program, with Craig Melvin saying, “Well, it was fun while it lasted.” Savannah Guthrie: “That’s one way to end it. A bit of a crash out for Team USA.” After a rundown of some other top news stories, Steve Patterson appeared live outside Seattle Stadium. After a taped recap of the match, Patterson said, “With that, the last host nation falls, ending the American dream of winning a tournament that had given us so many memories” (“Today,” NBC, 7/7).

President Trump played a role in getting the red card against USMNT F Folarin Balogun suspended ahead of Monday night’s game, and that controversial move “is following him now overseas” as he attends the NATO summit in Turkey. CBS’ Ed O’Keefe notes U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio “conceded that the issue may actually come up here at the NATO summit.” Soccer is seen as a “helpful bit of small talk at these diplomatic meetings” (“CBS Mornings,” 7/7).

Columnists continued to weigh in on Trump’s impact in the World Cup:

• L.A. Times’ Mirjam Swanson: Trump’s World Cup meddling only made matters worse for rattled U.S. squad.
• Philadelphia Inquirer’s Mike Sielski: The USMNT lived down to Donald Trump’s expectations: They played like the losers he thought they were.
• The Wall Street Journal’s Editorial Board: Donald Trump, World Cup Referee.
• London Telegraph’s Oliver Brown: Trump and Infantino have poisoned a wonderful World Cup.

World Cup fans hoping to see some Round of 16 matches will have some options on Tuesday. Argentina-Egypt tickets in Atlanta currently have a get-in price of $909 with 552 tickets available, according to TicketData.com. That price is down 43% over the past three days, 44% over the past seven and 9% since the start of the tournament. Switzerland-Colombia in Vancouver is even cheaper as prices sit at $626, down 43% over the past three days and over the past seven, as well as 51% since the tournament began. There are 693 tickets available for the match. SBJ has partnered with TicketData.com to track get-in prices and trends for upcoming games. For additional information on games, visit the World Cup page at TicketData.com.

NWSL club Gotham FC is set to announce Tuesday that it is “abandoning its current home” in Harrison, N.J., and “will play its home games at Etihad Park,” the future home of NYCFC in Queens. The move “will happen next year, when the new stadium opens.” Gotham’s owners said that the team “can attract more fans” in N.Y. NYCFC President & CEO Brad Sims said that Gotham has “agreed to a five-year lease to play at Etihad Park with the possibility that the club could extend its lease ‘for a very, very long time.’” Gotham FC will be the “main alternate tenant” at Etihad Park, after NYCFC, and NYCFC has “promised that when Gotham plays at Etihad, the digital signage and colors will reflect Gotham’s uniform and logo” (N.Y. TIMES, 7/7).

The “first of several college football media days during the month of July” will take place beginning Tuesday, as the Big 12 meets in Frisco, Texas. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark, as well as coaches, players and some school officials from each of the league’s 16 institutions, “will field questions from the media.” The Brendan Sorsby “saga -- and gambling in general -- will surely come up and require responses.” How “will Yormark and Texas Tech’s representation at media days handle this?” Also expected to be discussed is the Protect College Sports Act. Yormark’s latest comments on the PCSA “should be intriguing” (DESERET NEWS, 7/5).

Allen & Co.’s annual leadership retreat in Sun Valley, Idaho, begins Tuesday, with an invite list full of the biggest names across sports, entertainment, media and more. Among those on the invite list are NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman and representatives of all the NFL’s media partners. Among the NFL media partners, Paramount Skydance Chair & CEO David Ellison; Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro and ESPN Chair Jimmy Pitaro; Comcast co-CEO and Chair Brian Roberts and co-CEO Mike Cavanagh; Netflix co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters; Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch of Fox; Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan. Other top execs with sports ties include Apple’s Eddy Cue, CAA’s Bryan Lourd, Live Nation’s Michael Rapino and S.F. Giants investor Josh Kushner. An invitation does not guarantee attendance at the conference (VARIETY, 6/9).

Australia’s National Rugby League has inked “a landmark” $3.68B (all figures U.S.) broadcasting deal with DAZN and the Nine Network. While the seven-year extension with the game’s existing rights holders “retains the status quo” in terms of broadcast partners, the “sheer size of the deal means rugby league has never been better placed to grow beyond its current boundaries.” A “key plank of the seven-year deal” with Foxtel, and its parent company DAZN, “is the ability to take the game around the globe.” DAZN has about 100 million subscribers in 200 countries “who will now have access to rugby league” (THE AUSTRALIAN, 7/7). The deal is a “major hike ‌on the previous five-year agreement with the same broadcast partners,” which was worth about $1.39B (REUTERS, 7/7).

Pro Padel League, preparing for the start of its third full season with an event in N.Y. July 9-12, has signed Kalshi to a multiyear sponsorship. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but PPL CCO Diane Gotua told SBJ it is technically an extension of a proof-of-concept the two sides executed around PPL’s season-ending City’s Cup Final last fall. David Oxfeld, through his sponsorship agency Nexus (PPL’s agency of record), aided Gotua and PPL CEO Mike Dorfman in talks, while Kalshi negotiated directly led by its Head of Sports Partnerships Adam Barrick. In addition to offering PPL-specific markets and being designated the league’s “official prediction market partner,” Kalshi will receive brand visibility at PPL events and on PPL broadcasts; present VIP hospitality spaces for Kalshi partners and PPL fans; and stage other activations such as co-branded giveaways and exclusive padel clinics. Barrick also teased a potential social media content collaboration with comedian Andrew Schulz, who is an avid padel player and Kalshi ambassador.

“I’m excited about it, because you’re more invested [in matches] if there’s a player you’re rooting for, a team you’re rooting for,” Gotua said of PPL’s forthcoming Kalshi integrations. “It amplifies everything we’re doing on the league front of marketing and amplifying the profiles of our teams and players.” (Asked if PPL would consider a similar deal with a traditional sportsbook, Gotua said the league is currently “focused on prediction markets,” but “not precluded from exploring other fan engagement avenues like sports betting.”)

For Kalshi, the deal adds to a growing lineup of sports marketing deals that also includes tie-ups with the NHL, Heat F Giannis Antetokounmpo, Liv golfer Bryson DeChambeau, Madison Square Garden and the new Baller League USA soccer competition. Barrick said Kalshi was pleased with the results of the 2025 proof-of-concept with PPL, which validated a qualitative theory that, while a niche sport, the demographics of padel fans and players would cross over with those of Kalshi users.

“What we were able to ascertain from the [PPL] relationship -- but also as our product grows organically and we’ve learned more about users on our platform and interests they have -- there is a very strong overlay with padel participants,” Barrick said. “Discretionary income; interest and familiarity with consumer product applications; multifaceted interests across culture, entertainment, sports, politics, crypto. Those sorts of things.”

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“An unofficial ‘race’ between Japanese & Korean firms led to the construction of these, well southwest of both nations.”