☕ Good morning, we woke up today thinking about 2026. There are three stadiums left in the running to host the World Cup final. AT&T in Dallas, Metlife in NJ/NY and SoFi Stadium in LA. Some of our Interns think they got a good pulse on the decision and are willing to bet that Dallas is the favorite to host the final.

So what will you be wearing for the final in 2026? Luckily, you’ll have a good shot at wearing a sweet jersey that day by referring a minimum of 5 people to join the newsletter. Go ahead and share your unique link located at the bottom of this email and best of luck with the upcoming raffle 🍀🍀.

Matches to Catch

👀👀 We took a look around the leagues and picked the top three games to watch:

⚔️ Tottenham vs Liverpool. Top 4 matchup? We’re in. Tottenham are coming off a well fought battle against Arsenal that ended up in a tie last week and so all eyes are on them to see if they can string two strong performances in a row. 6 games into the season and neither team has lost a game yet which makes this the Premier League game to catch this weekend.

🐂 Girona vs Real Madrid. How about a top 2 matchup? Sign us up for that as well. Bet you wouldn’t have guess that Girona would be included in a top 2 matchup in the 8th week of the league, let alone that they would be in first place edging out Real Madrid in second and Barcelona in third place. Girona was promoted last season from the second tier league and finished the season in 10th place. There’s much to say about the competition in Spain’s League and how lately it has been a two horse race, but keep an eye out for this match this weekend because we thing that Girona could be cooking up an interesting story to watch.

🍻 RB Leipzig vs Bayern Munich. Lastly, we will take this top 4 German matchup with an Oktoberfest Stein to go along with. Hope you understand. What makes this match up so special is that we’re looking at a RB Leipzig team that is in strong form right now and has a good chance at beating the giants of Munich. Both teams also have midweek Champions League games next week that may be a factor, with Leipzig having the tougher matchup against reigning European champions Manchester City.

A Sticky Situation in England

🥵☔ When they sweat it pours. Aston Villa players are facing an unexpected challenge on the field - their new jerseys are getting a little too cozy with their bodies. The players claim that the jerseys are becoming increasingly heavy as they soak up the sweat, making them feel like they've got an extra layer of insulation on their bodies. The excessive sweat is causing the fabric to stick, creating an unintended resistance training session. Not exactly what you'd call a "breathable" experience, eh?

🛠️🧪 Working on a Solution. The club's management wasted no time in addressing the issue and has been actively working with Castore to find a solution. Castore, the British sportswear brand responsible for designing the jerseys, acknowledged the problem and expressed their commitment to resolving it swiftly. Castore are examining whether there are any short-term options for the men’s and women’s teams for this weekend’s games.

🤫🤐 Rumor Has It. However, rumors are that talks have already taken place over the possibility of finding an amicable way out of Villa’s ‘multi-year’ deal with Castore at the end of this season. This is not great for Castore as Newcastle United have recently invoked an exit clause in their deal with Castore, primarily after complaints from supporters about poor-quality merchandise, which means that from next season the club will have their kits made by Adidas. Hopefully, Castore can find the appropriate solutions for these issues to avoid any further problems.

COPA LIBERTADORES

🏆️ 🏆️ We travel to South America for Copa Libertadores. The CONMEBOL international club tournament started back in February and is down to the final four. The Semi-Finals kicked off with a sensational first leg clash between Fluminense (Brazil) and Internacional (Brazil) at the iconic Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

🟨 + 🟨 = 🟥 Fluminense took an early lead through a sublime combination play between German Cano and John Kennedy. However, the momentum took a turn when Fluminense's defense was dealt a blow as Samuel Xavier received his second yellow card, reducing them to 10 men. Internacional seized the opportunity and swiftly equalized before halftime. In the 64th minute, Internacional pulled ahead with a goal from Alan Patrick, assisted by Ecuardorian legend Enner Valencia. Just when it seemed Internacional had control, German Cano came to Fluminense's rescue with a brace, keeping their dreams of reaching the final alive. Catch the second leg when Internacional hosts Fluminense on  October 4, 2023 8:30PM EST.

💣️ 🌴 The Semi-Final on the other side of the bracket went down at the iconic La Bombonera, where Boca Juniors (Argentina) welcomed Palmeiras (Brazil). Former Napoli/PSG striker Edinson Cavani and Co. were kept at bay by Palmeiras. All credit goes to Palmeiras who have kept a clean sheet since the start of the knock-out rounds of this year’s Copa Libertadores. Don’t miss Palmeiras host Boca for the second leg on October 5, 2023 8:30PM EST.

The Blues Find Their Sponsor

Seeking New Sponsor: In case you missed it, English Premier League’s Chelsea Football Club has been without a front-of-shirt sponsor or sleeve sponsor since the start of the season. But that’s about to change as reports indicate that Chelsea has inked a deal with Infinite Athlete. However, Infinite Athlete will only be their front-of-shirt sponsor for the ongoing season. As for the sleeve, there is no news yet about a sponsor for this season.

Recent History: It may seem unusual for a club of Chelsea's stature to be without a sponsor, but recent history has shown that even top-tier clubs have faced similar situations. Just a few seasons ago, renowned clubs like Barcelona and Manchester United experienced brief periods without a sponsor. These instances highlight the dynamic nature of commercial partnerships in football.

Sponsor Significance: The club was patient and selective with their options, as they understand the importance of a strong sponsor and the mutual benefits it brings. A front-of-shirt sponsor not only provides financial support but also serves as a valuable brand ambassador, promoting the club's image and ideals to a global audience.

Around the Web..🕸️

• Meet Tiago Rech, the lonely fan who became the president and won a title for his club.

• FC Barcelona are in hot water again as they are officially under investigation in referee bribery case.

• Inter Miami are messy without Messi, loses out to Houston Dynamo FC in the US Open Cup Final.

• Will Victor Osimhen be seeing his team SSC Napoli in court?

Tell a Friend, Get Rewarded!

Share our newsletter with your friends and family, and get rewarded for doing so. Ending on October 13th, the top 10 readers with at least 5 referrals will be submitted to a raffle for a chance to win a vintage soccer jersey.

We will announce the winner and give them a week to reply and claim their prize!

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