The Brutal Pressure of Playing The 2026 World Cup On Home Soil

World Cup fever is officially here…but so are the complications.

This week, Julie Foudy and Abby Wambach dive into the magic, madness, and massive stakes of the World Cup returning to North America. From the U.S. Men’s National Team’s chances on home soil to the sky-high ticket prices, FIFA chaos, fan concerns, and the unifying power of soccer, Abby and Julie break down why this tournament still has the potential to be transformative.

Plus, the Party Starter covers Nelly Korda’s historic U.S. Women’s Open comeback, a chaotic French Open, Texas going back-to-back at the Women’s College World Series, Sophia Wilson’s return to the USWNT, and a little golf etiquette mayhem from Abby and Julie’s trip to Ally House.

00:00 — World Cup Fever Is Here
00:41 — Abby’s U.S. Open Weekend + Nelly Korda’s Big Win
05:33 — Party Starter: Nelly Korda Makes History
08:06 — French Open Chaos + A Changing of the Guard
10:48 — Texas Softball Goes Back-to-Back
12:39 — USWNT Falls to Brazil + Sophia Wilson Scores
22:02 — World Cup Preview: What Hosting Means
30:16 — Can the U.S. Men Make a Run?
40:00 — FIFA Chaos, Ticket Prices + Fan Concerns
45:25 — World Cup Fan Safety Resources
51:31 — Abby & Julie Take on Ally House at the U.S. Open

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Keep the Party Going:
Reserve Your Spot at Our FIFA x Airbnb Watch Party - June 19, 2026 in Culver City, CA: airbnb.com/experiences/6995610

The Centre for Sport and Human Rights is a human rights organisation for the world of sport. Their mission is to advance a world of sport that fully respects and promotes human rights by generating awareness, building capacity and delivering impact: sporthumanrights.org/about-us

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Athletes Unlimited Softball League kicks off today, schedule of games found here: theausl.com/schedule

Professional Softball League (PSL) launches its inaugural season on Friday, June 12: instagram.com/professionalsoftballleague

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