News Focus
- A reporter shares his experience working in Los Angeles during the 2026 World Cup preparations
- The United States team faces huge pressure to succeed and grow football across the country
- England’s squad shows fresh energy with young stars performing well on the pitch
- Australia celebrates diversity after Nestory Irankunda scores a memorable goal
- Journalists live in a small bubble between hotels, swimming pools, and local supermarkets
I am writing this from Los Angeles. I came here to work on my podcast during the tournament. It has been twenty years since I last stayed in a host country for a major competition. In 2006, I drove around Germany with friends. We drank beer and watched matches. This time is different. I have professional duties here.
People at home often ask me the same question. They want to know if Americans feel excited about the World Cup. This reminds me of Cambridge in 1990. A TV crew asked locals about an upcoming FA Cup match. The people did not know the town had a football team. It also reminds me of the Ashes cricket in Melbourne. Friends ask about the atmosphere there. But I usually stay home with my young children. I clean up rice from the floor. I send thanks to all partners at home who look after families while journalists travel.
The United States is extremely large. Los Angeles seems to go on forever. Recently, I tried to ride a pedal-free bike from West Hollywood to Santa Monica. I ended up on a busy road where cycling was not allowed. One minute I enjoyed the sunshine. The next minute I pulled a heavy bike through bushes far from help.
Between matches, we stay in a small area. We visit a supermarket called Trader Joe’s. We sit at a cafe across the road. We swim in a hotel pool where social media stars talk about video apps. You can watch games in West Hollywood bars. Fans wear US shirts. People wish luck to supporters from Bosnia.
The best part of the tournament is watching American fans celebrate. They cheered loudly after the victory against Paraguay. These are not new fans. These are people who have followed football for many years. They want the sport to grow in a country that loves basketball and American football. The US team must do well. A quarter-final place could help football become truly popular. This creates pressure for the players. England does not face this problem. Football is already popular there whether they win or lose.
I also felt emotional watching Australia. Fans gathered in Federation Square in Melbourne. Nestory Irankunda scored a wonderful goal. His family came to Australia as refugees. He now represents a country built by immigrants. This is beautiful. Connor Metcalfe also made me smile. He watched his goal back and used typical Australian slang. He said it was “far out”. I love the Socceroos. This feels strange because I do not feel the same way about Australian cricket.
Being far from England has benefits. I do not hear silly arguments about the national anthem. Some people ask if manager Thomas Tuchel sings it. I do not care about this. The England team looks strong and enjoyable to watch. Harry Kane has fast players around him. Noni Madueke smiles on the pitch. Elliot Anderson stands in good positions. Djed Spence runs very fast. Fans feel hope, but it is not the usual nervous hope.
I share a room with my friend and co-host Barry Glendenning. We watch Fox Sports together. We wonder if Zlatan Ibrahimovic will argue with Alexi Lalas. The American TV coverage is mostly good. They explain basic rules, but British channels do the same for casual viewers. I do not want to see Christian Pulisic’s bank advert again during water breaks.
Living with Barry is not always easy. He gets annoyed when I eat apples too loudly. He does not like when I leave the bottle loose. I gave him advice about cutting chillies. I asked if he needed a big saucepan. I put yoghurt in a bowl. I washed too many clothes. I complained about his rude body noises. But we are managing well.
Somehow people enjoy watching our daily life on the internet. We might become famous in America. Barry even helped a TV star with her car key. Big things might happen for us here. Thank you for reading.