☕️🎁 ⚽️ Good morning everyone. We’re back at it again with a World Cup related intro to our email. Topic of the day? Volunteering. Looks like some regional sites have started the sign up process for those that want to volunteer in the 2026 World Cup. How to find if your region has volunteer options? Simply google FWC26 and insert your region. Here’s the link for the NJ/NY region for example.

Giveaway: Wake up and smell the coffee. Just in time for the Holidays, our next giveaway will be a $30 gift card for our favorite coffee brand- Kickoff Coffee. As always, each friend that you refer to subscribe to the newsletter is an entry to our raffle. Best of luck!

Women’s Champions League
Quarter-Finals Set

🔜🤩 The road to Bilbao has been paved; spoiler alert.. it’s looking fierce and spicy.

• Ajax were considered outsiders in a group containing three of last season's quarter-finalists: Bayern, Paris Saint-Germain and Roma. But while Paris topped the group, Bayern and Roma both trailed Ajax

• Benfica faced Lyon in the inaugural group stage of 2021/22 and twice lost 5-0 to the eventual champions. That was far from a disgrace for the Eagles, who outperformed many expectations by taking a point off Bayern and finishing above Häcken.

• In the group stage, Häcken drew 0-0 at Chelsea and finished above not only Real Madrid but also Paris Saint-Germain FC, conquerors of Arsenal and Wolfsburg. That showed particular cool nerves from Häcken, who just days before the group stage kicked off had been denied the Damallsvenskan title on goal difference by Hammarby following a dramatic final day in Sweden.

💼👀 someone say Semi’s? Semi-Finals are set to take over two legs, April 20-21 and the second leg April 27-28.

• April 20th will see the winner of Brann/Barcelona face winner of Ajax/Chelsea, with April 27th seeing the second leg

• April 21 sets the stage for winner of Benfica/Lyon with the winner of Hacken/PSG

Premier League
The Chelsea Blues

👉🤵Chelsea are currently sitting in the bottom half of the table in 11th place. Soccer is no different than any other sport when it comes to who takes the blame for a team’s poor form. Pochettino is having a tough go this season with the Blues, and after serious money was spent this summer (almost a $1billion transfer window), the project does not seem to be playing out well. Chelsea lost 4-2 to Wolves this weekend at home, and the looks on fans faces said it all, they even booed their team off the field. Pochettino, you’re definitely in the hot seat now.

Read the full article here

From the Archives
Curious Case of Ronaldinho

🏆️😄🐐 Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, commonly known as Ronaldinho Gaucho, also known for producing magic and bringing tears of joy to fans across the world during his time with Brazil National Team, FCB Barcelona, and AC Milan. With his trademark broad smile, he’s a 1x World Cup winner, 1x Copa America winner, 1x Ballon D’or winner, 1x Copa Libertadores winner, 2x La Liga champ, and 1x Serie A. Everyone was a fan, it’s hard to think of someone who wasn’t, but we’ll save you from all the hard thinking. Queue AC Milan then-gaffa Massimiliano Allegri.

🪩⚽️☎️ Per Adriano Galliani, CEO of AC Milan (1986-2017), Massimiliano Allegri replaced Carlo Ancelotti as head coach. Carlo Ancelotti’s final season as manager with AC Milan was the former Barca man’s first. Shortly after his appointment, Allegri called in almost daily to complain over Ronaldinho’s off-the-pitch theatrics.

• Specifically, Ronaldinho arrived late to training after going out the night before with little to no sleep

• Ronaldinho frequently fly to Paris immediately after a fixture to enjoy himself long into the night

• Allegri pleaded with Galliani to sell the Brazilian sensation

• On one occasion, Allegri lost his patience after Ronaldinho had arrived to training on time… however, the lad arrived directly from a Milanese nightclub

• The former Ballon d’Or winner was fined heavily by Milan for his off-the-pitch conduct

🫡😎🌅 Nothing short of a miracle, breath and sweat reeks of alcohol, Ronaldinho talent has never been questioned, but his physical condition is precarious to say the least. Even after his long nights, the Rossoneri No. 80 repeatedly embarrassed opposing players, dancing past defenders with ease with feints, shimmies and no-look passes. Unfortunately, the lad’s Milan nights came to an end by January 2011 when he signed for Brazilian’s Flamengo, marking an end to his glamorous European adventure.

Read the full article here

Matches to catch

Africa Cup of Nations Semi-Final

Asian Cup Semi-Final

Coupe de France Round of 16

DFB Pokal Quarter-Final

FA Cup

Copa Del Rey Semi-final

Quick Bites 🍕

Manchester City almost in full form

No Late Submissions

Jordan pull the upset at AFC Asian Cup

30 games unbeaten

Football, by the fans for the fans

In search of a pub? Ever find yourself in a new city and are desperately searching for a local soccer pub? Who would have thought that the premier league took time out of their day to create a bar finder. There really is nothing better than catching an early premier league game on the weekends with fellow fans of the game, and finding that bar that will actually have the game sound on just got that much easier.

USA Bar Finder. Bar finder, aka Intern Jose’s nickname in college. Easy to use search platform on the premier leagues website. It has most major cities included, and they’re even accepting updates to their list if you email them at [email protected]

Find your local soccer pub here.