Emmy and Peabody-winning writer/comedian Jeff Maurer (creator of I Might Be Wrong on Substack and former writer for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver) and host Thomas Emerick revisit the 2002 World Cup Round of 16 soccer matchup between the USA men’s national team and Mexico. 

Setting the Stage:

• How Jeff handled catching a match with a 2:30 a.m. Eastern kickoff live from Jeonju, South Korea
• Being a soccer fan in the '90s in Virginia
• British and American soccer fandom at Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
• The historical rivalry between the USA and Mexico in soccer.
• Pre-match expectations: Betting odds, media hype, and the national sentiment.

Key Moments of the Match:

• Brian McBride’s Early Goal: How the U.S. took the initiative.
• Landon Donovan’s Iconic Header: Breaking down the play that sealed the win.
• Rafael Márquez’s Red Card: The turning point that cemented the upset.

Analysis & Commentary:

• Tactical breakdown: What the teams did well and where they faltered.
• Reflections on how the game influenced the trajectory of both teams and reshaped the narrative of American soccer.

Cultural Impact:

• The broader legacy of the match in expanding the tent of U.S. soccer fandom.
• How the game is remembered today by fans and its influence on the USA-Mexico rivalry.

Additional Threads:

• Late Night TV landscape in 2002 and today
• Substack as a comedy platform and as a disruptor in news and social media

HOST

RotoViz contributor Thomas Emerick

Guest

Emmy and Peabody-winning writer/comedian Jeff Maurer (I Might Be Wrong)

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SHOW NOTES

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