Tag Archives: world cup

FIFA Museum Presented by Hyundai Enhances World Cup Experience in New York

by Wynne Kenna/Special to The Daily Payoff

NEW YORK – The FIFA Museum Presented by Hyundai has welcomed visitors to Rockefeller Center this summer, attracting soccer fans from all over to create a community through conversations, World Cup artifact viewing, and shared experiences. 

The pop-up event, “Legacies of Champions,” is a free exhibition open from June 11 through July 19 located at 50 Rockefeller Plaza. The event includes but is not limited to items associated with soccer stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, and Pelé, the FIFA World Cup original trophy, and jerseys lining the wall representing the 48 countries playing in the tournament. 

This event is a place to converse with attendees and see the sport and culture from different perspectives. 

Metropolitan Oval Academy and Youth Development

Athletes who are part of the Metropolitan Oval Academy, a soccer talent development organization established in 1925, shared their thoughts on what this event means to them. One pinpointed on the fact that having young players in the World Cup is a source of inspiration along with a dream that he one day wants to reach. The young athletes shared excitement over witnessing evidence of those who have fulfilled their dream was palpable. Being immersed in a World Cup environment further inspired them to continue pursuing their own dreams. 

This event supports the mission of the academy, developing youth players both on and off the field, by connecting their training to the sport’s highest level. 

Effects of Prices  

One fan discussed the reality of high ticket prices for the World Cup in America, which has resulted in limited access to attending matches. Many fans would like to attend but are unable to afford tickets. 

Historically, World Cup matches have been priced in a range that is accessible to most fans. As the World Cup landed in North America this year, ticket prices escalated to a level that has made attending matches almost impossible to many fans. The downside is that many committed fans are unable to support their team inside the arena. 

Impact of the Event

Attendees also spoke about what it meant to New York to host this event. Several saw it as a strong moment for the city because it allowed the city’s resident population to display its diversity and cohesion, and said that the museum offered a space for fans to share passion and love for soccer. 

When asked how the museum experience impacted fans, many attendees pointed to a feeling of unity that overcame differences in language and national background. One fan who supported Ghana, expressed their thoughts about France winning the tournament. Despite mixed loyalties, many attendees agreed that the love for soccer was strongly felt throughout the event and shown within each interaction. 

The Real Purpose

The museum succeeds in showcasing not only memorabilia and historical keepsakes, but also provides the opportunity for meaningful conversations and connections with other fans, both existing and new. It is a common cross-cultural language; some of our most meaningful conversations were with people from parts of the world where English is not the primary language. We connected over a shared love of sport and were able to communicate by referencing jerseys and flags through smiles, laughs, and hand gestures. 

Michelob ULTRA Enlists FANZO and Men In Blazers to Launch Out-of-Home Campaign for FIFA World Cup

Michelob ULTRA, the Official Beer Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, has announced a fully integrated campaign built around an often overlooked insight: for the overwhelming majority of fans, the out-of-home experience isn’t a consolation prize for not having a ticket – it is the FIFA World Cup™.

The campaign features two new approaches to serving every type of 21+ fan in attendance, both powered by FANZO’s technology.

For international visitors:

With 1.24m foreign fans expected to travel to the United States for the tournament and an average trip duration of 14-days, the majority of every visiting fan’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ experience will happen away from stadiums.

Advertising across airports, train stations and metro systems in host cities will carry QR codes, driving arriving fans directly to a Michelob ULTRA venue map, powered by FANZO. This will ensure visitors can find great local venues showing the tournament and share the experience surrounded by other passionate fans from the moment they set foot in the country.

For American soccer fans:

Michelob ULTRA has partnered with Men in Blazers Media Network – the podcast and media brand that has done more than any other outlet to grow soccer culture in the United States – to identify and celebrate the 250 best fan venues in the country.

Curated by Men In Blazers’ audience and powered by FANZO’s venue technology, the list is the definitive guide to where American soccer fans can watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™ at an official Michelob ULTRA partner venue – chosen based on atmosphere, community and experience rather than geography alone.

Roger Bennett, founder and CEO of Men In Blazers, said, “The U.S. soccer bar is a sacred place. These institutions are not just watering holes with the match on the big screen, they are true communities that have helped propel the rise of football across the nation. These are places where fans come together to be collectively transported to Old Trafford, Anfield, or Camp Nou for 90 minutes at a time – making lifetime memories together.

“Partnering with FANZO has allowed us to help local and traveling supporters find these venues that transcend with their pies, pints, songs, and atmosphere. We’re thrilled to spotlight them and the people on both sides of the bar who make them unique.”

Together, Michelob ULTRA’s campaign represents the first coordinated, technology-led strategy by a FIFA World Cup™ sponsor built specifically around the out-of-home fan as a primary audience – rather than an afterthought.

Leo MacLehose, CEO of FANZO said, “Men In Blazers have spent fifteen years identifying and celebrating the places where American soccer culture is made. Michelob ULTRA has built its FIFA World Cup 2026™ campaign around that key insight – even for fans with tickets, the out-of-home experience is where most will spend the majority of this tournament.

Combining that cultural authority with the technology to connect every arriving fan to a great nearby venue is something we’re hugely proud to be part of. By demonstrating that the undervalued out-of-home audience can be reached, served and measured at scale, it changes the conversation for every rights holder and brand thinking about where their next sponsorship dollar lands.”

https://www.fanzo.com/en-us/michelob-ultra-fifa-world-cup-bar-finder/10218?pillId=223

For Soccer and Gemini XIII Partner to Launch ‘Orange Slices’ Vodcast Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup

For Soccer, the preeminent soccer media and experiences company, and Gemini XIII, the premium podcast and vodcast entertainment network, today announced the launch of “Orange Slices,” a bold new soccer media vodcast and event vertical rooted in the shared story of the American game. Designed as a 360-degree content and fan engagement hub, Orange Slices will span premium long-form and short-form content, social storytelling, custom features, and a marquee fan event—all leading into and surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

The twice-weekly flagship podcast will be hosted by former U.S. Men’s National Team Player, Major League Soccer All-Star and Apple TV analyst Heath Pearce, with appearances from current and former players across generations of the game, including active USMNT and Toulouse FC center back Mark McKenzie. Bridging past, present, and future voices of the sport, the show blends seasoned perspective with real-time insight from inside the game—offering fans a rare window into the evolving identity of soccer in the United States and beyond.

In the lead-up to the World Cup, Orange Slices will deliver match previews and recaps, tactical breakdowns, player profiles, and cultural storytelling from host cities across North America. At its core, the show is a cross-generational celebration of soccer—from the muddy fields across America to the global stage—featuring voices from across eras of the game. Episodes will spotlight guests spanning past, present, and emerging stars, sharing stories, insights, and perspectives that shape the broader American soccer narrative. The name “Orange Slices” nods to the universal halftime ritual of youth soccer, grounding the global spectacle of the sport in its community roots and shared joy.

“Orange Slices is about connecting generations of U.S. Soccer—from the players who built it, to the ones living it now, to those who will carry it forward,” said Heath Pearce, host of Orange Slices and President of For Soccer. “This show is a celebration of our shared soccer story, told from the inside—through the voices, experiences, and moments that have shaped the American game, from youth fields to the World Cup stage.”

The launch also marks a major branded activation within Gemini XIII’s expanding Constellation portfolio, a recently released product that brings together premium talent, IP, and brand partners to create scalable, multi-format franchises.

“With the World Cup coming to North America, there’s an unprecedented opportunity to capture the energy of the moment. This is exactly what Constellation was built to do—bring together world-class talent, cultural moments, and brand partners to create something bigger than a show,” said Charles Steinhauer, Gemini XIII Media.

Orange Slices will be available on all major podcast streaming platforms including YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Panini America unveils Canada and USA cover for FIFA World Cup 2026™ sticker collection

photo: NEW YORK, DECEMBER 03: Julian De Guzman, Pavel Pardo, Landon Donovan, Jason Howarth, Elisabetta Mussin and Jaedyn Shaw press the button during the Panini America FIFA World Cup 2026™ Album Cover Reveal at Met Life Stadium on December 03, 2025 in East Rutherford. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Panini America)

As anticipation builds globally ahead of the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Panini America has unveiled a striking Canada-United States cover design for the collectible issue of its iconic sticker album. The new edition will once again be available to billions of football fans worldwide, offering them the chance to take part in the tradition ahead of what promises to be the biggest and best-ever edition of the world’s greatest competition.

The Panini FIFA World Cup™ sticker collection has captivated fans and collectors around the globe for more than 50 years, celebrating the players and teams that have battled it out on the sport’s biggest stage. With 48 nations set to compete at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the United States, this will be the largest Panini FIFA World Cup sticker collection ever.

Panini will publish the sticker album’s global cover in the coming months, during the run-up to the flagship event in North America, while a special cover is also expected to be launched for Mexico. The release marks the first time that the Panini collection will have a cover dedicated to a FIFA World Cup host region. This special cover reveal will also kick-start a time-limited pre-order campaign on Amazon.

Romy Gai, FIFA Chief Business Officer, said: “Just like the FIFA World Cup, the Panini sticker album is one of the most iconic and enduring traditions in global football culture. For generations, it has brought fans together, sparked excitement around the world and created memories and mementos that last long after the final whistle. We are proud to continue this partnership for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Together with Panini, we look forward to celebrating a product that unites collectors, families and fans of all ages. This album is more than a collectible – it is a symbol of the joy, passion and anticipation that define the FIFA World Cup.”

The Canada-United States cover captures a colourful FIFA World Cup 2026 style anchored by the tournament’s official emblem and the FIFA World Cup Trophy, while also showcasing Panini’s timeless “bicycle kick” icon based on former Italian player Carlo Parola, which was introduced as Panini’s official logo in 1965.

“Our Panini FIFA World Cup sticker collection has engaged people all over the world for generations, and we are proud to introduce this landmark Canada-United States album cover for our 2026 edition,” said Mark Warsop, Chief Executive Officer of Panini America. “This special cover is the initial step in how we plan to celebrate our products and partnerships throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will include the stickers and trading cards, and we believe that fans and collectors are going to be very excited.”

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be staged across 16 Host Cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Today’s unveiling of the special cover took place in New York New Jersey, where the FIFA World Cup final will be played next July.

Panini is FIFA’s exclusive partner for official stickers, trading cards, trading-card games and digital collectibles. The first edition of the Panini FIFA World Cup sticker collection was produced for the 1970 instalment of the global showpiece in Mexico.

Kitman Labs Data Analytics: A Case For Why Each Team Can Win Women’s Title

Play continues in New Zealand and Australia this week, and Kitman Labs, the global SaaS platform providing the only single, centralized operating system for performance intelligence in the elite performance industry, has used its proprietary approach to analytics to provide insight into how each of the four remaining sides can win the championship.

Kitman Labs demonstrates a commitment to objectivity over opinion, highly valuing expertise and experience while keeping data as the guard-rails to protect bias and subjectivity creeping in. Nothing in the team evaluation provided is without foundation in data.

Utilizing the data gleaned from the matches to date and accounting for how that can influence play in past semifinals and finals level contests, Kitman Labs has developed paths for each of the four teams to claim the title.

Why Australia Will Win The World Cup: What is the biggest reason Australia are going to win the world cup? The Matildas have been preparing for this event since June 23th 2020 when they were announced as the hosts. The preparation they have put into their squad is bearing fruit in this tournament.

Australia have put their focus on developing a core group of young players over the past years, and giving them the tools to succeed in this world cup. Australia has started only 12 players during the tournament, while 5 key players have played every minute of the world cup. Despite the squad having 9 players with over 100 international caps, and having the joint highest number of caps on the field across each of their games, the age of the players on the field is second youngest of the semi-finalists. This is a cohort with the experience to succeed in a major tournament, while still having the youth required to manage so many matches in such little time.

For the full analytic breakdown visit: https://bit.ly/KitmanWWCAustralia

Why England Will Win The World Cup: England are going to win this world cup because they have the most balanced squad left in the competition. They do not need superstar players to be world champions – instead their key strength is for every player you take out of their starting team, the replacement is just as strong. None of their players are coming into the world cup undercooked, and the majority of their squad is in their peak years. Peak age players can go longer, and England have been able to save their depth for later in the tournament.

England have gotten to the Semi Finals of the world cup without playing their best football. Their game has mitigated risk – limiting opportunities for opposition sides to difficult chances and leading to the lowest goals conceded in the tournament. They have dominated possession, but looked to create high quality opportunities. Coming into the tournament ranked 4th, they have underperformed thus far against weaker opponents, but their stats make clear there an opportunity for additional risk taking when the lionesses face the toughest opponents of the tournament. Many teams have peaked too early in this world cup – Japan and the Netherlands having impressive group stages but going out in the quarter finals – and knowing what it takes to win and peaking at the right time can be precisely what is required to be champion.

For the full analytic breakdown visit: https://bit.ly/KitmanWWCEngland

Why Spain Will Win The World Cup: Why are Spain going to win the World Cup? They will win because they have the highest quality of player in the tournament, and have been able to bring the strongest squad onto the pitch in each of their games. This squad has bossed the game in each of their matches, averaging over 70% possession over the course of the competition.

Spain also have an elite set of goal scorers and assisters – more than any of the other semi-finalists. These players have created and scored goals at an elite level coming into the tournament, and have also performed during the FIFA WWC. Spain have scored the most goals and created the highest number of chances of any team remaining in the competition. With 8 goalscorers and 6 players having given assists this tournament they are most well insulated against an off-day from any individual player.

For the full analytic breakdown visit: https://bit.ly/KitmanWWCSpain

Why Sweden will win the World Cup: Two words give the biggest reason Sweden are going to win this world cup – set pieces. Sweden’s strength lies in their physicality; on average their players are taller than 75% of other players left in the tournament. This gives them an advantage over the opposition any time the ball is in the air and in any dead-ball situation, something they have used to devastating effect. Of their 11 goals, 7 have come as a result of set pieces. Four goals have been scored directly, two penalties have been won, and a further goal has come from post-set-piece chaos. Amanda Ilestedt, a centre back, is their top scorer with four as a result. Clearly, Sweden’s height is too much for their opponents to handle.

Sweden are the most experienced team left in the tournament. They have wise heads that have done it at international level before. Experience is going to be crucial at the business end of this tournament. While tiredness can sometimes be the downfall of older sides, this isn’t a concern for the Swedes. They got their business done early in the group stages and were able to rest players against Argentina. As a result, their players have played the fewest minutes in the world cup – Sweden are in a great physical condition to compete in the latter stages.

For the full analytic breakdown visit: https://bit.ly/KitmanWWCSweden

For Soccer Ventures Completes Another Year of Growth With FIFA Women’s World Cup Coming in 2023

For Soccer Ventures (FSV), a media and experiences company spearheading a collaborative movement to connect brands, players, fans, families and platforms to the diverse American soccer community, completed a third consecutive year of record growth, expansion and engagement in 2022 as it looks forward to 2023, expansion of its properties and partnerships, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“While the just completed FIFA Men’s World Cup certainly helped raise awareness and engagement for soccer, it was just the culmination of a year where we saw partnerships soar everywhere from grassroots, to community impact and media, to brand engagement,” said Heath Pearce, President, FSV. “2023 is shaping up to be an epic year for soccer across North America with the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the debut of the Leagues Cup – which will feature all of the clubs from MLS and Liga MX in a completely reimagined, month-long, World Cup style tournament.” “As brands and platforms look to engage soccer fans, players, families and communities across North America, FSV is poised to deliver the most authentic media and marketing solutions in the market today.”

Since the pandemic, FSV has seen a 600% increase in revenue, and are now at 40 full-time employees, up from just eight in 2020. In the past year, FSV has continued to expand partnerships with some of the biggest brands in the world: adidas, Pepsi, Lays, Verizon, CBS Sports/Paramount+, Telemundo, Allstate, Soccer.com, BodyArmor, Ford, Topps, Umbro, Chevron and CVS among them.

Some highlights:

The Black Star Initiative, a platform accelerating the growth and popularity of soccer in Black American communities, continued its expansion, celebrating Black soccer culture, building community, and providing players and coaches access to soccer development pathways through its free Community Pick Up, First-Touch Youth Clinic, Girls and Boys ID Showcase, and U.S. Soccer Coach for Community – Coaching Clinic events. Paramount+ was presenting sponsor for all Black Star events in cities ranging from Detroit and Washington, DC to Los Angeles and Houston.

FSV teamed up with BodyArmor for their MLS All-Star Activation, providing a free soccer clinic for underserved communities in Minneapolis and also an influencer led soccer tournament (“Community Cup”), including Minnesota Aurora FC goalkeeper Sarah Fuller.

FSV Extended partnerships to support Paramount+’s growing soccer portfolio in the US, Mexico and across Latin America.

Alianza de Futbol, which FSV acquired in 2020, continued its own meteoric growth, overcoming the pause caused by the Covid 19 pandemic which kept thousands of soccer fans in the Hispanic community away from the fields for over a year. This year, the tour visited ten different cities prior to the National Finals: Phoenix, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San José, El Paso and Austin. One of the 2022 tour record figures was accomplished in Houston, where all tournaments were sold out and at capacity, with more than 34,000 fans and upwards of 2,000 participating players in attendance.

FSV extended its partnership with Allstate and “Allstate Sueno Alianza” which gives thousands of players the opportunity to be scouted by professional and national teams as well as colleges and universities.

The company built out an extensive multilingual influencer activation with FIFA World Cup broadcaster Telemundo to increase awareness for their talent and platform during the games in Qatar.

On the media side, FSV signed a strategic partnership with Men in Blazers to represent their iconic brand and continued to build on partnerships with Umbro, Topps, and adidas.

On the community and grassroots side, FSV continued to build on its partnership with Chevron and launched a new program with CVS Health.

FSV launched the Association – an experiential soccer league celebrating the sport, culture, and people that make the game vibrant. The 2022 installment (presented by BodyArmor) featured teams from CAA, Sony, Religion Of Sports, 424, The Shoe Surgeon, Winston House, AEG, Immortals FC, the American Outlaws, and Google.

In collaboration with Pepsico, The Team of Champions Platform (entering its third year) is now supporting over 15,000 players – giving black, Hispanic and female clubs around the country financial resources to make soccer fields and equipment more accessible and tournaments/league fees more affordable.

The ACCESS U Foundation – a non-profit organization that mentors underserved Hispanic and Black players and their families about the college pathway, including collegiate athletic scholarship opportunities and the college recruiting process to help them achieve their educational goals is supporting more than 70 players in their college recruitment and mentorship process.

The Soccer Collective, FSV’s owned and operated network of social media accounts, surpassed 2.6 million followers across 10 social brands. The Collective’s broader creator community, featuring partners like Men In Blazers, ThisWeekInMLS, and USMNTOnly, contributed to best-in-class influencer campaigns for a range of partners, including Paramount+, Topps, Telemundo, Umbro, and more.

On the Original Content side, FSV’s “Orange Slices,” a podcast hosted by former U.S. Men’s National Team player and Major League Soccer All-Star Heath Pearce and 22-year-old emerging U.S. international Mark McKenzie celebrate the past, present, and future of American soccer through generational storytelling and unprecedented access to rising U.S. stars around the world. Recent guests have included the likes of current US Men’s National Team players – Timothy Weah, Brendan Aaronson, Tyler Adams and Yunus Musah. As well as USMNT legend Tim Howard.

World Cup Miami 2022, City of Miami Team For Second FIFA World Cup Soccer Watch Event December 10

The global phenomenon that is FIFA World Cup is upon us, with Group play already underway in Qatar. For fans in Greater Miami looking to celebrate with thousands of other supporters, World Cup Miami 2022 (@worldcupmiami2022) is excited to announce that it will be co-hosting, along with the City of Miami, a second massive World Cup Watch Event live at Bayfront Park on December 10, featuring the last two World Cup quarterfinal matches.

The collaboration between World Cup Miami 2022, City of Miami, and The DNA (Downtown Neighbors Alliance) further strengthens the amazing push towards the 2026 World Cup in Miami. The December 10 World Cup Miami Watch Event will feature everything fans would expect from an amazing fan-fest: tasty food and drinks, interactive activities, and famous special guests.

“There is a strong and deep-rooted soccer culture in Miami,” said James Torres, President of The DNA, “which is why our collective vision for hosting these events is to allow all soccer fans to experience the World Cup in an environment like no other. We are determined to break the usual tradition of watching matches in an over-priced and over-crowded bar and show the amazing Miami soccer community an event they will never forget!”

This will be an amazing opportunity for soccer fans to take part in another exciting and unique World Cup watch event. It represents the second Watch Event Hosted by World Cup Miami 2022, following the extravaganza set for this Friday, November 25 at Miami Dade Fairgrounds, highlighted by the USA vs. England matchup. Popular international broadcaster beIN Sports will film the event, making it a can’t miss for all soccer fans.

Tickets for the December 10 Watch Event will go on sale this Friday, November 25 at https://worldcupmiami2022.com/. Fans attending the first World Cup Miami Watch Event on Friday will be able to purchase their tickets to the December 10 Watch Event at a special discount of 50%.

Sports Gambling Podcast Network Uses Short-Form Video To The Max

Sports Gambling Podcast Network’s (SGPN) latest offering of short-form content on YouTube has grown seven-fold over the last three months and is tracking to hit 750,000 views before the end of the year, outpacing industry growth metrics significantly as the college football season heads down the stretch and pro football hits the midpoint of its season.

The sports wagering industry’s leading independent provider of free analysis and picks, SGPN registered a record-breaking September and continues to see growth across multiple platforms. With over 6,350 subscribers on YouTube and over 100,000 followers over multiple platforms, SGPN has seen the number of views of shortform videos on YouTube alone go from 33,500 in August to over 208,700 in October.

A recent Instagram story featuring SGPN co-hosts and co-founders Sean Green and Ryan Kramer discussing Tom Brady’s recent struggles off the field is set to hit 1 million views alone.

Its model of sophisticated, entertaining, no-cost content resonates strongly with the growing audience of sports fans interested in the legal wagering boom sweeping the United States. Another boost is expected when the World Cup in Qatar begins Sunday, driving audience to The World Cup Gambling Podcast, which hit the airwaves on November 13. It provides users with in-depth wagering and picks around the biggest sporting event in soccer and one of the biggest in the world.

A key component of the SGPN success is the community they’ve created by offering completely free content spanning the full scope of bettable sports. Many SGPN competitors are designed to drive visitors to sign up for wagering accounts at various sportsbook websites, a revenue-generating approach that is transaction-oriented as opposed to relationship-oriented. The evidence that it is working is the dramatic audience growth on multiple platforms.

“Our sponsors and advertisers invest in our audience size and then find additional value in the response from our followers, who connect their products favorably to SGPN and its unbeatable value proposition of great information and guidance at no cost,” said Sean Green, co-founder and CEO who is now in his second decade with the company.

“We’ve found the short-form video to be a sweet spot because it enables us to provide the sports gambling content in an efficiently entertaining way as we cover sports news as it relates to betting the games,” added Ryan Kramer, co-founder of SGPN and an analytics geek in the art of picking winners. “This time of year is crazy with all the action. We’re proud of the depth and frequency of the content we produce.”

The news of the growth on YouTube comes one month after SGPN set a company record of 1.1 million downloads in September. That is more than twice (2.44x) the number of downloads experienced in September of 2021. For 2022, SGPN has seen over 6.5 million downloads from fans, already surpassing last year’s company record of three million downloads.

SGPN’s new World Cup podcast is hosted by Malcolm Bamford, who is advancing the event now and will break down game winners and totals with other insights once the competition begins. He’ll also dive into other wagering options that will help bettors find some easy money in the blockbuster international spectacle that is slated for major cover here in the United States, continuing through the championship game on Sunday, Dec. 18.

According to the American Gaming Association’s inaugural survey on World Cup wagering, an estimated 20.5 million American adults plan to bet a total of $1.8 billion on the upcoming World Cup, adding that 72 percent of bettors plan to place traditional bets either online, with a bookie or at a physical sportsbook.

Soccer Fans Gear Up For FIFA World Cup Watch Event In Miami Friday, November 25

For soccer fans in South Florida and beyond, the next best thing to being in Qatar for FIFA World Cup is coming to Miami Dade Fair Expo on Friday, November 25, when World Cup Miami 2022 (@worldcupmiami2022) hosts a massive World Cup Watch Event. Gates open at 10:30 for a full afternoon of interactive family friendly activities, live music, food and drinks, raffles, special guests and much more. And, most importantly, both matches will be televised on two huge LED JUMBOTRONS!

The day will begin at 10 a.m. with an attempt at a record-breaking March-In by team support groups and fans. After the gates open at 11 am, there will be various interactive activities for all soccer fans to enjoy throughout the day, along with merch booths, vendors, food courts, beer garden, photo zone, and much more. At the conclusion of the match will be a closing ceremony to announce all winners of the activities and raffles. Admission, schedules and more details are available at https://worldcupmiami2022.com/.

“The World Cup Watch Party in Miami will be the best way for fans stateside to gather to cheer on their favorite team in a raucous atmosphere that’s as close to being in Qatar as possible,” said Joe Avino, Event Organizer. “We can’t wait to help fans experience the excitement of soccer at its highest global level and celebrate with thousands of others who love this beautiful sport.

In addition to general admission, fans can take advantage of VIP and Ultra VIP opportunities, which will include an ultra posh VIP area, beer garden, designated rest room facilities, first in line access to all activities and additional beverage and raffle tickets. Youth soccer players under 12 are admitted for free. See you at the Fair!

Betting Innovation Centre launches Opta BetBuilder Plus for the World Cup

Stats Perform and Sporting Solutions’ new Betting Innovation Centre announced its first B2B product set, Opta BetBuilder Plus, that will quickly unlock the true potential of player props and same-game betting for every operator and bettor.

Initially built for football and ready to integrate today, Opta BetBuilder Plus is the only major betbuilder product to utilise Stats Perform’s renowned Opta player statistics and enables sportsbooks of all sizes to offer thrilling experiences for the 2022 World Cup and many competitions beyond.

The product fills key gaps that have held back the growth of football betting by connecting sharp pricing with contextual front-end Opta stats, in-play as well as pre-game, delivered in multiple formats including singles, pre-combined multis, a betbuilder API and hosted betbuilder UI.

Opta BetBuilder Plus features unique Opta-powered markets, like player shots on target and goalkeeper saves, which are available for a broad range of global football competitions. The service has also been built from the ground-up to be fast and simple to launch, particularly for hundreds of operators with an existing Sporting Solutions or Stats Perform integration.

“Opta BetBuilder Plus creates dream experiences for bettors and operators and will set a benchmark for the future of betbuilder products. It perfectly combines the best of Sporting Solutions and Stats Perform: elite modeling and trading expertise, uniquely deep player data, product expertise and the world-renowned Opta brand,” said Shane Gannon, SVP Betting at Stats Perform.

CEO of Sporting Solutions, Andy Wright, said: “Since announcing the Betting Innovation Centre, operators have been asking for player proposition prices like shots to be available at scale in betbuilders and same-game products, in-play as well as pre-game, to make football betting more entertaining for their users.

“They also want their traders to have genuine confidence in the player proposition pricing, so they can keep more markets open longer, for more games, and be creative with their boosts and promotions. That’s a large part of the unique value we’re bringing.”

Added Gannon, “Operators want their customers to be able to quickly find and place the right bet, to track it and have stats to help them make a cash-out decision, for all the big leagues but also their local hero players and teams.

“Our Opta BetBuilder Plus product set enables all of this, via a very fast integration. It is perfect for any operator wanting to unlock the true potential of football betting and means every operator can quickly offer trusted, unbeatable football betting experiences,” he said.

Telemundo Deportes Introduces Expanded FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Commentary Team

Telemundo Deportes, the exclusive Spanish-language home of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, announces an expanded lineup of experts joining its commentary team as it kicks off the 100-day countdown to the start of the tournament this fall, airing live exclusively in Spanish on Telemundo, Universo and Peacock.

“This is a year that will be a total game-changer for the biggest sporting event in the world, and we’re thrilled to celebrate this milestone by introducing and welcoming an impressive roster of legendary figures joining us in Qatar in 100 days,” said Ray Warren, President of Telemundo Deportes.

Former Mexican national team head coach Miguel “Piojo” Herrera, Real Madrid and Spanish national team legend Fernando Hierro, World Cup champions Mauro Silva of Brazil and Claudio Borghi of Argentina, and 2010 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball winner Diego Forlán of Uruguay are some of the iconic soccer personalities joining Telemundo Deportes to provide an “on-the-pitch” perspective and expert analysis.

Telemundo Deportes assembled an unprecedented lineup of experts to enhance the coverage and broaden the scope of the World Cup commentary team’s technical expertise, experience and diversity with voices that represent many of the countries participating in the World Cup that are most relevant to Hispanic audiences.

“This is our most ambitious World Cup presentation yet with the largest onsite presence the network has ever had, and we’re proud to have a world-class team of experts and on-air talent at the helm of our coverage,” said Eli Velazquez, Executive Vice President of Sports Content, Telemundo Deportes. “This group reflects our commitment to deliver deeper coverage, unique perspectives, relevant storylines, and more excitement than ever before.”

The roster combines diverse soccer legends and experts who bring unique experiences from all facets of the game to complement Telemundo Deportes’ renowned award-winning commentary team. Coverage will be anchored by soccer Hall of Famer, six-time Emmy award-winner and chief commentator Andres Cantor alongside Emmy-award winning sports journalist Miguel Gurwitz, Telemundo’s Emmy-nominated sports and entertainment host Ana Jurka, Premier League host Carlota Vizmanos and Mexican soccer icon Carlos Hermosillo as the official hosts, leading the pre- and post-game analysis from Telemundo’s presentation studio located at the center of the cultural Souq Waqif Marketplace.

Telemundo Deportes’ production will feature the largest onsite footprint ever with in-venue presence at all 64 games and dedicated commentary teams calling the games from within the stadium. The experts join Telemundo Deportes announce teams to serve as analysts and join the announce teams for relevant matches. Former Mexican National Team and Chivas player Manuel Sol will join Cantor as lead analyst; network play-by-play veteran Copán Álvarez, two-time Emmy award nominee Sammy Sadovnik and accomplished Spanish-language sports broadcaster Jorge Calvo will provide play-by-play alongside experienced sports analyst Eduardo Biscayart, who has four World Cups and nine Champions League finals under his belt.

Telemundo Deportes is the exclusive Spanish-language home of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM taking place in Qatar this fall. The network is prepared to deliver the most ambitious coverage in Spanish-language history with all 64 matches live, including all four games on Thanksgiving Day. Peacock will provide live coverage of all matches live and a dedicated 24/7 channel with exclusive content.

Biographical highlights of Telemundo Deportes’ lineup of experts for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ coverage below. Visual assets such as images and videos here or at https://publicity.gettyimages.com/telemundo/Qatar2022.

AMELIA VALVERDE

Costa Rica

Coach

As the current head coach of the Costa Rica Women’s National Team, Valverde will bring her expertise to Telemundo Deportes for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™. She has previously contributed as game and studio analyst for the Tokyo Olympics women soccer coverage and expert commentator for 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France.

CARLOS TENORIO

Ecuador

Forward

Former Ecuadorian player represented his nation in two FIFA World Cups. Tenorio’s club career began with LDU Quito and later joined Saudi Arabian Al-Nassr FC for one season, scoring 15 goals in 16 appearances. From 2003 to 2009, Tenorio played in Qatar for Al Sadd, winning three Qatar Stars League titles, before moving to Al-Nasr SC in the United Arab Emirates and later returning to South America and finishing his career with the Ecuadorian club Atlético Saquisilí.

CLAUDIO BORGHI

Chile-Argentina

Midfielder

World Cup champion played alongside Maradona when Argentina won the 1986 FIFA World Cup™. The Argentine-Chilean manager and former attacking midfielder returns to Telemundo Deportes after serving as guest analyst in Russia.

DIEGO FORLÁN

Uruguay

Forward

Regarded as one of the greatest Uruguayan players of all time, Forlán has participated in three FIFA World Cups, including the 2010 tournament where Uruguay came in fourth place, and he received the Golden Ball as the best player. Through his career he also played for some of Europe’s top clubs including Manchester United, Villarreal, Atletico de Madrid, and Inter Milan. He returns to Telemundo Deportes after serving as analyst for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.

FERNANDO HIERRO

Spain

Center Back & Defensive Midfielder

Decorated Spanish player regarded as one of the best defenders in the history of the Real Madrid. Hierro won La Liga five times and the Champions League in three occasions. Representing his National Team, he played in three FIFA World Cups and was a member of the FIFA All-Star World Cup Team in Korea/Japan 2002. As a coach, he managed the Spain National Team during 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia™.

HORACIO ELIZONDO

Argentina

Referee

Former international football referee who’s best known for being the first ever to officiate both the opening and Final Match in a World Cup (2006). Elizondo has analyzed calls for Telemundo Deportes’ coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and will rejoin our team in Qatar.

JAIME HERRERA GARDUÑO

Mexico

Referee

With a five-year career in Mexico’s First Division, Jaime Herrera Garduño is recognized for being the first Mexican referee to officiate in the Major League Soccer. During his 19-year career he officiated international tournaments such as Copa Libertadores among others. He retired in 2016 and will join Telemundo Deportes for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™.

MAURO SILVA

Brazil

Defensive Midfielder

World Cup champion and standout figure of Deportivo de La Coruña. Silva won La Liga title once, Copa del Rey twice and the Supercopa de España on three occasions with the Galician team. He represented Brazil in the nation’s victorious 1994 World Cup where he played in all of Brazil´s seven matches.

MAXI RODRÍGUEZ

Argentina

Midfielder

Former Argentine footballer nicknamed “La Fiera” left his mark in Spain playing for Espanyol and Atlético Madrid for the bulk of his career, spent two years with Liverpool in England, and returned to Newell’s Old Boys where he began and ended his career. Rodríguez represented his country in three World Cups, finishing second in 2014. One of his career highlights occurred in Germany 2006 when he scored the goal that eliminated Mexico during the extra time of the Round of 16 match played in Leipzig.

MIGUEL “PIOJO” HERRERA

Mexico

Midfielder

Former Mexican player, and current manager for Liga MX club Tigres UANL. “El Piojo” is best known for his coaching career with Club America, where he won his first title at the 2013 Clausura Tournament, and with the Mexican National team when he led “El Tri” to a playoff victory over New Zealand securing the last qualifying spot and final ticket for the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014.

NATALIA ASTRAIN

USA

Coach

Recently appointed new head coach of the U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team, Astrain returns to Telemundo Deportes for 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ after her contribution as soccer analyst for the Tokyo Olympics women soccer coverage. She is a well-respected and experienced soccer coach previously serving as an assistant coach with NWSL Kansas City after a long run in Spain with FC Barcelona, Atletico de Madrid, and the Spanish Federation.

ÓSCAR “CONEJO” PÉREZ:

Mexico

Goalkeeper

Goalkeeping legend nicknamed “El Conejo” is considered one of the best in Mexican history. While representing Mexican teams Cruz Azul and Pachuca, Pérez achieved three CONCACAF Champions League titles, two Mexican leagues and one Mexican Cup. He represented his country in 55 matches including three World Cups. Additionally, he won three CONCACAF Gold Cup titles along with the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup.

SEBASTIÁN ABREU “EL LOCO”

Uruguay

Forward

Commonly known as “El Loco” for his unpredictable shows of skill and technique, Abreu is a former Uruguayan player who gave “La Celeste” a ticket to the 2010 World Cup semifinal scoring a “Panenka style” penalty in the controversial victory over Ghana. He´s also recognized for his record of playing in 32 teams from 11 different countries.

TAB RAMOS

USA

Midfielder

Former American soccer player returns to Telemundo Deportes after serving as analyst for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™. Over his thirteen-year professional career he played as a midfielder in Spain, Mexico, and the United States. Ramos participated in three FIFA World Cups with the USMNT. He was inducted to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2005.

World Cup Fantasy Could Open Door to Olympic Fantasy

By Joe Favorito @Joefav @TheDailyPayoff

The success and proof of concept that Mondogoal achieved these past two weeks with Women’s World Cup showed that select niche mega-events can draw both dollars and attention.

DraftKings and other smaller companies have been looking to golf as a new growing platform because it is simple, mobile and can be played in and around live event. Their their million dollar winner for the US Open demonstrated a growing market not just for golfers but for millennials who may never play a four-hour round on a Saturday.

As we move closer to the one year out celebration that countries all over the world will put on for Rio, it’s interesting to start thinking about the permutations of Olympic fantasy and how it would work. New sports coming into Rio, golf especially, can easily be adapted to a pay fantasy model, and team sports like basketball are ripe for an engagement game.

Parlay the fact that the International Olympic Committee earlier this year approved legal sports books in Nevada to carry betting lines for next summer’s games, and that means that a deeper analytic dive will be made by betting houses around the world to find ways to create interest in sports like swimming and other individual sports as well. Fantasy gymnastics, anyone?

Maybe not gymnastics, as individual sports outside the mainstream may be too difficult to create an audience for. However for key team sports, and add in a growing sport like rugby which will be in the games for the first time and has a strong tie to traditional gambling play, and other mainstream team sports in the Games, and you have interesting opportunities for pay fantasy alongside traditional gambling being done legally from Las Vegas.

The interest in fantasy and gambling will not be lost on rights holder NBC as well. The recent numbers by the Fantasy Sports Trade Association show that the more fantasy play involved with sport, the more the viewer is engaged in the broadcast and all pieces that go along with engagement. Since the Olympics traditionally skew viewers that are older and more female, the goal is to find a younger and more engaged audience, and an investment in fantasy play may be smart, at least for American audience engagement for 2016.

“There is no doubt that pay fantasy is growing in engagement, the question is still how do you make it simple and appealing to a wide audience of casual fans, and there is no bigger event other than the Super Bowl that gathers casual fans like the Olympics,” said Chris Lencheski, longtime marketer and currently running the consulting business Phoenicia. “The amount of data available for the Olympics so vast, the broadcasters want more engagement, and the marketing dollars are there. While it might not be a huge playing audience for 2016, it can set the table for the future just like this Women’s World Cup game has, so it will be interesting to see who steps up to engage.”

While Yahoo has said they will make a big play in the pay fantasy space this fall, most other media companies have gone the partner route, looking for revenue share and advertising dollars from the bigger pay fantasy players thus far. Could that change if the marketplace shows an interest going forward? NBC has done a great job in creative engagement around its properties, and added engagement for the Olympics in the form of pay fantasy would be an intriguing look.

If it worked for WWC, maybe it can work for the Olympics as well.