June 12, 2026 9:45 am EDT Updated Welcome to the premiere of The Athletic FC: Daily Cup! As the biggest World Cup in history kicks off with 48 teams and 104 matches across North America, hosts Tamerra Griffin, James McNicholas and Hannah VanBiber cut through the hype. We dive deep into an extraordinary investigation with Adam Crafton and Pablo Torre, exposing the hidden millions in taxpayer dollars funding FIFA’s tournament. Plus, Senior Soccer Writer Tom Bogert joins us to break down the expanded format and what a home-field advantage really means for the USMNT. We also check out the tournament’s best and worst kits with Hannah Vanbiber—including the infamous Nike “shoulder-gate” controversy. Can the US handle the immense pressure on home soil? All that and the Top 3 stories as the tournament nears on the first episode of The Athletic FC Daily Cup. You can also watch Daily Cup on Amazon Fire and listen where you get your podcasts.Jun 12, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms