I had the pleasure of chopping it up with professionally trained actor and Carnage Mellon alumnus Carl De Gregorio. Carl and I discuss the 2026 World Cup, the magical allure of sports, and their unique ability to bring people together. Beyond being a working writer, actor, and comedian in Hollywood, Carl also runs a successful acting coaching business for professional performers. As impressive as those accomplishments are, at heart he's simply an everyday sports fan hoping to catch a Knicks game at The Garden.

With the U.S., Mexico, and Canada hosting the 2026 World Cup, I'd love to say World Cup fever is sweeping America. Instead, it feels more like a slight cough. Still, there's noticeably more enthusiasm than in years past, suggesting soccer has found its way into a few million more American hearts—including my sports-obsessed friend, Carl De Gregorio.

Carl and I discuss the significance of the U.S. serving as one of the tournament's hosts and what the World Cup could mean for the future of soccer in America. We also share a few confessions about the teams whose skill, heart, and tenacity have moved us emotionally. There may not be any crying in baseball, but I'm not so sure the same can be said for soccer. ⚽️