- Future and Tyla’s chemistry shined during the World Cup opening ceremony.
- The US team’s 4-1 win over Paraguay signals their potential to be a force in the tournament.
- Viewership for the WC is expected to increase with 48 teams competing this year.
The FIFA World Cup has descended upon the States and the opening ceremony saw Future and Tyla collaborate on a performance spanning the African diaspora.
Their track “Game Time” has been used in promo for the international games in the weeks leading up to the official kickoff, but the pair’s chemistry on stage was a must-see. Staying true to his roots, Future rocked Atlanta Falcons colors during the performance, while Tyla rocked her own blue and white star studded number.
The South African beauty also rocked a gold and diamond encrusted FIFA grill for the occasion. Sweet! Although soccer is not as big here in the United States as it is internationally, there is beginning to be an interest in the sport as more people from different cultures migrate to the states. Unfortunately, the current political climate has seen the games get off to a rocky start as players, coaches and referees have run into visa issues while trying to enter the country.
Nevertheless, the games are always a time to come together for five weeks while the world’s attention turns to the World Cup. The Games remain the most-watched sporting event in the world, with FIFA reporting that an estimated 2.1 billion viewers watched the 2022 games in Qatar, despite criticism of the decision to host in the country.
Amid the tense political backdrop in the United States, FIFA believes viewership for the World Cup will see an increase, as 48 teams will compete this year, compared to 32 in 2022. Interest in the games has seen a steady bump for the last three World Cup games, in fact, as the sport’s stars continue to find mass appeal among young fans. Lionel Messi, one of the sport’s most popular and recognizable athletes, now plays for a team based in the States; a big step to continue making soccer the world’s favorite pastime.
There has also been a big improvement in the US men’s team, long considered among the worst – often missing the mark to compete in the Games – while the women’s team achieved numerous accolades, including gold medals at the Olympics. However, they did pull off an impressive 4-1 win over the Paraguayan side to kick off the World Cup on June 12, seemingly putting the world on notice that they might be a team to watch this round.
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