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There is a feeling that comes with a home World Cup, and it is impossible to describe to someone who has never felt it. Five thousand five hundred people showed up just to watch the USMNT practice yesterday. Decatur is ready. Atlanta is ready. The only thing left to do is play.

Three days. That's all that stands between the United States men's national team and the most consequential soccer match played on American soil since the last time this country hosted a World Cup. On Friday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the USMNT opens against Paraguay, and the buzz building around this team is unlike anything most of these players have ever experienced.

Monday's open training session at Great Park in Irvine drew 5,500 fans, the lucky winners of a lottery entered by more than 32,000 people, just to watch a practice. Mauricio Pochettino got a "U-S-A!" chant going while his team was still inside doing gym work. This is what a home World Cup looks like.

The headline out of Monday came from the backline. Chris Richards was a full participant in training, the first time he had practiced fully alongside teammates since the roster announcement in New York on May 26. The Crystal Palace defender tore two ankle ligaments on May 17 against Brentford and missed both pre-tournament friendlies against Senegal and Germany as he worked to get right. He came through Monday's session running and cutting with no apparent discomfort, signing autographs and joking with fans afterward. Pochettino said it was good to have "nearly everyone ready to be selected" for the Paraguay game, and Richards himself has maintained throughout his recovery that he fully expects to play in this tournament.

His availability matters more than a typical roster decision. The U.S. backline has been shaky in transition and prone to individual errors in both friendlies, giving up goals against Senegal in a 3-2 win and against Germany in a 2-1 loss. Richards is considered the best central defender in the American pool at a position where the depth runs thin. Having him healthy and available to start against Paraguay would give Pochettino options he simply does not have otherwise. Captain Tim Ream acknowledged Monday that the team was not happy with the goals conceded and plans to review film over the next couple of days to get things tighter before Friday.

Tyler Adams was limited to gym work due to load management, which is the kind of thing that would cause alarm in a less charged atmosphere but reads as routine at this stage of tournament prep. The bigger emotional current running through camp right now is something Ream put plainly: this is a once-in-a-career moment, and he has been urging his younger teammates to open their eyes and take it in rather than be consumed by the weight of it. Folarin Balogun called the opportunity "a bit full circle" given his personal journey, and Ricardo Pepi framed it not as pressure but as a chance to play in front of their country and their people. Matt Freese offered the line of the day: "Pressure makes diamonds, and I think we're a group of 26 guys that wants to show that we're a bunch of diamonds."

Friday cannot get here fast enough.

The Eagle Football Group saga entered a new chapter on Monday, and it may be the most consequential one yet. The board of directors of Eagle Football Group SA, the holding company that owns Olympique Lyonnais, announced it has filed a criminal complaint with the public prosecutor in Lyon against persons unknown, following an internal investigation into the management of OL between May 2023 and June 2025. That management period corresponds directly to the tenure of American businessman John Textor, the founder who has since been pushed out of the company.

The complaint stems from an external investigation commissioned in December 2025 and submitted to the company in early June 2026. The findings are striking. The report concludes that there was deliberate disorganization of OL's operations, paired with systematic opacity in financial management, and it identifies hundreds of millions of euros in financial transactions that appear to have been executed without clear economic justification. This was all happening, the report notes, during periods of severe cash flow crisis and delays in paying social security contributions. The legal filing alleges potential offenses including misuse of corporate assets, falsification of financial statements, and dissemination of misleading information to the market.

The phrase "against persons unknown" is a standard mechanism in French criminal procedure, but the context leaves little ambiguity about where investigators are expected to look. Textor has been a polarizing and turbulent presence in European football ownership since assembling his multi-club network, and his exit from Eagle Football has come amid a cascade of financial difficulty. Ares Management, one of EFG's major creditors, is reportedly owed $547 million following the company's financial collapse, and the group has been navigating administration proceedings in recent months.

This is a story with a long runway ahead of it. The French criminal process moves at its own pace, and a complaint against persons unknown does not guarantee charges, let alone a conviction. But the fact that the board of the company Textor built has now formally put its legal machinery to work signals that this chapter of the story is far from over. For a club with Lyon's history and stature, the hope has to be that daylight is coming on the other side of all of this.

Romário dancing through defenses. Roberto Baggio with the weight of Italy on his shoulders. Hristo Stoichkov dragging Bulgaria somewhere no one saw coming. The 1994 World Cup on American soil produced heroes that fans who were there have never stopped talking about, and a generation of American kids who saw something that summer and never looked away. Thursday, it comes back.

While the eyes of global soccer are fixed on the eight matches coming to Mercedes-Benz Stadium this summer, one of the best places to experience the 2026 World Cup in metro Atlanta may not require a ticket at all. Decatur WatchFest '26 opens Thursday and runs straight through the July 19 final, turning the Decatur Square into a 34-day festival built around big screens, live music, and the kind of community energy that makes a World Cup summer unforgettable.

The setup is straightforward and genuinely impressive. Three giant screens on the Square will show more than 60 matches over the course of the tournament, with no tickets or registration required. Every USMNT group stage match is on the schedule, starting with the USA vs. Paraguay opener on Friday, June 12, at 9 pm. All 104 World Cup matches will be shown somewhere in Decatur, either on the Square or at participating WatchSpot pubs and restaurants throughout the city. Getting there is easy: MARTA connects Decatur directly to Downtown Atlanta, putting the Square within reach of the broader metro without the parking headache.

The concert calendar is just as ambitious. Decatur WatchFest will have live music every single day of the tournament, with 31 free shows and three ticketed headliners: Big Boi, the Indigo Girls, and The War and Treaty. The Big Boi and Indigo Girls shows are already sold out, but tickets remain for The War and Treaty, who will take the stage on June 25 introduced by Carter Center Board Chair Jason Carter.

Beyond the matches and the music, the activations make this feel like a proper festival rather than just an outdoor viewing party. The Atlanta United Skills Zone gives kids a place to play and meet players. Emory Healthcare is supporting Kulture City sensory accessibility accommodations. The Canada and Switzerland Consulates are showing up together on June 24 to celebrate their teams' match day in the spirit of the tournament. And the economic stakes are real: an Emory Goizueta economist projects the World Cup could generate up to $142.5 million in economic impact for the City of Decatur, with as many as 10,000 visitors arriving per day.

If you are looking for a home base for this World Cup summer that feels like Atlanta at its best, the Square is a very good answer.

Two days. That's all that separates us from the opening kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the world is already here. Teams are settled into their base camps, final friendlies are wrapped up, and the last roster decisions are being made. Everything that could be prepared has been prepared. Now we find out what it all means.

On The Field

Spain arrives at the tournament in the most remarkable form of any contender, completing a 3-1 win over Peru in Puebla on Monday to extend their unbeaten run to 30 matches across all competitions. Luis de la Fuente is still monitoring the fitness of Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Víctor Muñoz ahead of their June 15 opener against Cape Verde in Atlanta, but the manager said all three could be available. The defending European champions open Group H play right here at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and a 30-match unbeaten streak is the kind of thing that tends to focus attention. Argentina, meanwhile, confirmed that Lionel Messi will see minutes in Tuesday's final friendly against Iceland in Auburn, Alabama, after he was held out of the Honduras match on Saturday. Coach Lionel Scaloni described it plainly: he will play, the minutes are just to be determined. The Albiceleste open June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City.

Off The Field

Japan's arrival in Nashville has been one of the feel-good stories of the pre-tournament week. About 5,000 fans and Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell showed up at Geodis Park to watch the Samurai Blue go through an open training session, and captain Wataru Endo set the tone immediately: Japan is not coming to participate, they are coming to do something their country has never done before at a World Cup. The Tennessee connection runs deeper than soccer, too. Japanese companies including Bridgestone and Nissan have had roots in the state for decades, and Japan is one of only three nations with a full-service consulate in Nashville. Germany, meanwhile, has set up base at the Graylyn Estate in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a century-old castle-turned-luxury hotel sitting on 22 hectares of grounds. Coach Julian Nagelsmann called it "a contrast to Chicago," which is perhaps the most understated thing anyone has said this week.

Somalia's Referee Barred from Tournament: Omar Abdulkadir Artan, the 2025 CAF men's referee of the year and a FIFA-selected official for the tournament, was denied entry to the United States at Miami International Airport on June 6. Somalia is among the countries on the current travel ban list. FIFA confirmed Artan will not be able to participate and said it is not involved in host country immigration decisions. Artan responded with grace, wishing his colleagues well and promising to keep improving.

Timber Out for the Netherlands: Arsenal right-back Jurrien Timber has been ruled out of the World Cup after being deemed not sufficiently recovered from a groin injury sustained in March. Sunderland's Lutsharel Geertruida will replace him. The Netherlands beat Uzbekistan 2-1 in their final warmup Monday, but it was an unconvincing performance that left coach Ronald Koeman with questions to answer before Sunday's opener against Japan in Dallas.

France Looks Sharp in Farewell to Deschamps: Michael Olise completed a hat trick, including a brilliant curling finish from 20 meters, as France beat Northern Ireland 3-1 in their final tune-up on Monday. It was also the last match on French soil for Didier Deschamps, who steps down after the World Cup following 14 years in charge of Les Bleus. France open June 16 against Senegal in New Jersey.

Soccer's American Surge Is Real: A new Nielsen report released Tuesday shows North America's soccer fan base has grown nearly 11 percent over the past five years to more than 136 million people. The United States now ranks fourth globally with 62.5 million fans, 76 percent of whom fall in the Millennial and Gen Z cohorts. Nearly seven in ten American fans said their interest has increased in the last three years as the World Cup has approached.

Uruguay's Injury Troubles Mount: Defender Ronald Araujo traveled to Madrid for stem cell treatment on a calf injury and is expected to miss Uruguay's opener against Saudi Arabia on June 16, targeting the June 21 match against Cape Verde instead. Separately, Flamengo issued a formal statement criticizing the Uruguayan federation's handling of midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta's recovery from a clavicle fracture, saying agreed medical protocols were not followed. De Arrascaeta will miss the start of the tournament.

SDH AM is live right now on the SDH Network YouTube and Twitch channels, with Jon Nelson at the helm. Today's show has something for everyone headed into World Cup week: Dwight Smith joins to talk about the new MARTA merch line, MLS and NWSL analyst Kacey White breaks down the tournament landscape, and Karn Saxena from Fanpath is on to help anyone still trying to figure out last-minute World Cup travel logistics. Miss it live? Catch it later wherever you get your podcasts.

Atlanta Soccer Tonight is live tonight at 10 pm on 92.9 The Game, the Audacy app, and the 92.9 YouTube channel. And mark your calendars for Friday: AST goes on location at Mazzy's in Duluth from 6 to 8 pm, just ahead of the USMNT's World Cup opener against Paraguay. That is the place to be Friday night before kickoff.

SDH 1v1 — Available now: I sat down with Georgia State men's soccer head coach Brett Surrency and women's soccer head coach Ed Joyce for a wide-ranging conversation that goes well beyond X's and O's. They cover the World Cup coming to Atlanta, what it means for their players and programs, how the Atlanta United academy has reshaped youth soccer culture in Georgia, the evolving college soccer landscape with the transfer portal and calendar changes, and why developing the base of the pyramid matters as much as the top. If you care about where soccer in this city and this state is headed, this one is worth your time.

Christian Eriksen Is Home After ICD Scare: The Danish midfielder collapsed during a friendly against Ukraine on Sunday when his implantable cardioverter defibrillator activated in the 65th minute. Eriksen walked off the pitch, was taken to hospital for observation, and confirmed Monday he is home with his family. He was clear that this was a different situation from his 2021 cardiac arrest, and that his device did exactly what it was designed to do.

Alexia Putellas Weighing Three Offers After Barcelona Exit: The two-time Ballon d'Or winner has confirmed her departure from Barcelona after 14 years, and London City Lionesses are reported to be leading the race for her signature. An NWSL club and a Mexican side are also among her options. Putellas plans to go on holiday after Spain's international commitments before making her decision.

Junior Claims Back-to-Back Colombian Title: Junior de Barranquilla won the Liga BetPlay Apertura championship on Monday despite a 1-0 defeat to Atlético Nacional in the second leg in Medellín. The result was not enough to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit, making Junior the first back-to-back Colombian champions in five years. The atmosphere at the Atanasio Girardot was extraordinary, with fans shredding six tons of paper for the pre-match show.

Jim Curtin Named Austin FC Head Coach: The two-time MLS Coach of the Year, who spent 11 seasons with the Philadelphia Union, has been hired to take over at Austin FC beginning with the 2027 season. Davy Arnaud will continue as interim for the rest of 2026, with the club currently sitting 14th in the Western Conference at the World Cup break.

American Investors Eye Reggina in Wrexham-Style Bet: Underdog Global Partners, the private equity firm led by Matt Rizzetta and backed by Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, is in advanced discussions to purchase AS Reggina 1914, a historic Serie A club now playing in Italy's fourth tier. The plan is to return the Reggio Calabria club to Serie A within five to seven years.

OGC Nice Sale Nearing Completion: A British investment fund is in advanced talks to acquire Nice from INEOS, according to L'Equipe, with a deal approaching completion. INEOS has been looking to sell the Ligue 1 club since expanding its football portfolio through its investment in Manchester United.

Thirty-two years ago, a country discovered what it felt like to host the world's game, and the sport has never been the same here since. Thursday, it gets to feel that again, and this time the people who fell in love with soccer in the summer of 1994 get to share it with the kids they raised on it.

Song of the Day: "Home Sweet Home" by Mötley Crüe. The Los Angeles band's most tender anthem feels just right as the USMNT prepares to open their home World Cup at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Friday night. Nowhere else they'd rather be.

Jason