Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
John Decker, our White House correspondent, joins us now tell
me they're coming to the new Protective Stadium here in
Birmingham for one of the matches.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I don't know, you have to look that up, just
google it. But you know they'll be playing all over
not only the United States in the early round matches,
but also in Canada and Mexico because it's three countries
that are actually hosting the twenty twenty six World Cup.
In fact, the leaders of all three countries Mexico, Canada,
and of course the United States President Trump will be
(00:28):
on hand for that draw ceremony, which is taking place
at the Kennedy Center, just a few blocks away from
the White House.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
That takes place today.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
The drawing takes place today absolutely so the US will
find out, as will other countries in the world that
have qualified for the World Cup, where their first round
matches will be number one and number two who's in
there grouping. And that's really important, you know, because if
you're in the same group, for instance, as a docer
powerhouse like Italy or you are not going to potentially
(01:03):
come out of the knockout stages, and that would mean
your World Cup experience will be very limited, and it
will also mean that you know, not enough people will
have seen you play just because you've only been in
those early run matches.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yeah, FIFA is a huge worldwide, obviously event every year,
and the United States kind of falls behind. Football is
still the number one sport here, I guess, over soccer,
but soccer is certainly gaining ground in the United States.
What country, John, would you say was the biggest when
it comes to soccer. Is it somewhere in Europe or
is it Brazil or where do you think you get
(01:39):
the biggest crowds for soccer matches these days?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Well that's a great question. I mean, look, if I
tell you Spain, someone in Brazil is going to get
very angry because they think that it's a soccer capital
of the world. But you know, look, soccer is big
all around the world, including here in the United States.
Let's not forget. The best women's soccer team in the
world is the USA, always has been, always will be. Unfortunately,
(02:04):
the men's USA team has not had the kind of
success as the women have had, and hopefully that changes
in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Well that's a big time messy, guys, And you know
the big names in soccer, Diego, what's his name, Mara Donna.
These guys are making bang too big money paid in
these events.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Oh my gosh, you're right. I think the highest paid
athletes in the world likely are soccer players. Enormous salaries,
you know, some words sometimes upwards of thirty million plus
per year. Of course, that rivals what an NFL superstar
quarterback makes. But they have a worldwide appeal, and you know,
(02:44):
they can augment those earnings that they make on what
they call the soccer pitch with being you know, out
there doing commercials around the world in many languages. So
these are people that are certainly well known, maybe not
everywhere in the United States, but certainly well known in
much of the world.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Yeah, Peley, that was the guy that put kind of
soccer on the map. He was so big back in
the day, I think in the what seventies, sixties and seventies,
but then.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
In the seventies, absolutely sure, of course he was. He
was huge. But you know, now, as you mentioned, you know,
you have Lionel Messi just as huge, and you know,
I think that he I think is still deciding whether
or not he's going to play in the twenty twenty
six World Cup.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Yeah, Ronaldo's also pretty big. Christiano Ronaldo, this guy is
huge as well. So it sounds like a big event today.
So looking forward to having some matches here in the
United States. Should be fun. John Decker, thank you so much, buddy.
I appreciate you.
John Decker, our White House correspondent, joins us now tell
me they're coming to the new Protective Stadium here in
Birmingham for one of the matches.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I don't know, you have to look that up, just
google it. But you know they'll be playing all over
not only the United States in the early round matches,
but also in Canada and Mexico because it's three countries
that are actually hosting the twenty twenty six World Cup.
In fact, the leaders of all three countries Mexico, Canada,
and of course the United States President Trump will be
(00:28):
on hand for that draw ceremony, which is taking place
at the Kennedy Center, just a few blocks away from
the White House.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
That takes place today.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
The drawing takes place today absolutely so the US will
find out, as will other countries in the world that
have qualified for the World Cup, where their first round
matches will be number one and number two who's in
there grouping. And that's really important, you know, because if
you're in the same group, for instance, as a docer
powerhouse like Italy or you are not going to potentially
(01:03):
come out of the knockout stages, and that would mean
your World Cup experience will be very limited, and it
will also mean that you know, not enough people will
have seen you play just because you've only been in
those early run matches.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yeah, FIFA is a huge worldwide, obviously event every year,
and the United States kind of falls behind. Football is
still the number one sport here, I guess, over soccer,
but soccer is certainly gaining ground in the United States.
What country, John, would you say was the biggest when
it comes to soccer. Is it somewhere in Europe or
is it Brazil or where do you think you get
(01:39):
the biggest crowds for soccer matches these days?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Well that's a great question. I mean, look, if I
tell you Spain, someone in Brazil is going to get
very angry because they think that it's a soccer capital
of the world. But you know, look, soccer is big
all around the world, including here in the United States.
Let's not forget. The best women's soccer team in the
world is the USA, always has been, always will be. Unfortunately,
(02:04):
the men's USA team has not had the kind of
success as the women have had, and hopefully that changes
in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Well that's a big time messy, guys, And you know
the big names in soccer, Diego, what's his name, Mara Donna.
These guys are making bang too big money paid in
these events.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Oh my gosh, you're right. I think the highest paid
athletes in the world likely are soccer players. Enormous salaries,
you know, some words sometimes upwards of thirty million plus
per year. Of course, that rivals what an NFL superstar
quarterback makes. But they have a worldwide appeal, and you know,
(02:44):
they can augment those earnings that they make on what
they call the soccer pitch with being you know, out
there doing commercials around the world in many languages. So
these are people that are certainly well known, maybe not
everywhere in the United States, but certainly well known in
much of the world.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Yeah, Peley, that was the guy that put kind of
soccer on the map. He was so big back in
the day, I think in the what seventies, sixties and seventies,
but then.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
In the seventies, absolutely sure, of course he was. He
was huge. But you know, now, as you mentioned, you know,
you have Lionel Messi just as huge, and you know,
I think that he I think is still deciding whether
or not he's going to play in the twenty twenty
six World Cup.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Yeah, Ronaldo's also pretty big. Christiano Ronaldo, this guy is
huge as well. So it sounds like a big event today.
So looking forward to having some matches here in the
United States. Should be fun. John Decker, thank you so much, buddy.
I appreciate you.
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