USWNT to Film World Cup Docu-series for Netflix 🎥

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It’s Tuesday, July 18th. Give us four minutes, we give you everything World Cup.

“Maybe they’re using the metric system wrong over there”

Sam Mewis joined Rog to preview the World Cup this week, expressing skepticism that Norway’s fear-inducing striker Ada Hegerberg is not, in fact, taller than her. Sam Mewis’ skepticism came amid a conversation surrounding how statuesque Ada seems to be when they play against her, only for a quick Google check to show Sam is 6’0” and Ada is 5’9”.

You can listen to all four episodes of our Women’s World Cup Pod Series with Sam HERE. We go group-by-group, team-by-team, giving you all of the biggest storylines heading into this competition.

I. USWNT to film World Cup docu-series for Netflix 🇺🇲

Netflix announced their latest docuseries will track the US Women’s National Team as they vie for three-peat glory Down Under.

Equipped with Executive Producers such as Connor Schell, who produced ‘The Last Dance’ and ‘OJ: Made in America’, the series will trail the world’s most successful women’s football side as they attempt to do what hasn’t been done before: win a third straight World Cup trophy.

No matter the result of their three-peat attempt (and with no small measure of supporters wondering if this series might jinx their journey) the multi-episode documentary will seek to portray the lives of the USWNT stars as mothers, athletes, and people of diverse backgrounds as they join together to compete.

Fans can expect to see lots of Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Alyssa Thompson, Lynn Williams, Kristie Mewis and Sofia Huerta, in particular. Additional featured players will be included, but are currently unconfirmed.

Friday, we Do It Live! after USWNT vs. Vietnam. This Friday after the USWNT kick off their attempt to go back-to-back-to-back, Rog will break down the game live on AMP with our Women’s World Cup Co-Host Sam Mewis. Come listen to us Pod live and ask your questions to Rog and Sam directly. Download the AMP app or listen on your laptop HERE. You can also tell your Alexa, “Hey Alexa, play Men in Blazers” while we’re live and you can listen in.

II. England Lioness captain Millie Bright says they’ll pause pay dispute during World Cup 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Earlier this month, we wrote about England’s internal dispute over World Cup bonuses. England are one among many nations heading into the tournament at loggerheads with their federation over tournament compensation.

Tuesday, England’s captain Millie Bright posted to social media to state that while the team remained dedicated to the long term realization of their requests, they would be putting aside the dispute while they compete for a World Cup.

Men in Blazers WWC Preview Pod Series with Mighty Sam Mewis. This morning, we released the second two episodes of our four-part Pod Preview series in which we breakdown all of the storylines you need to know ahead of this World Cup, group-by-group, team-by-team. All four episodes are available on our Pod Feed right now. LISTEN HERE

III. GROUP G Preview 🇸🇪 🇿🇦 🇮🇹 🇦🇷

i. Sweden 🇸🇪

Sweden remains a darling of major tournaments as reliable, formidable contenders, but have yet to clinch a major trophy. They fought valiantly to the semi-final stage of the 2022 Euros as well as the 2019 World Cup, but fell just short of the final. Still rocking with a familiar cadre of talent that brought them to the end stages of those tournaments, the Blue and Yellow are near-certain to place first in this group. Opponents can expect freshly crowned Champions League winner Fridolina Rolfö (Barcelona) to be as lethal as ever coming down the left flank, roaring into the tournament after scoring the match winner this June.

ii. South Africa 🇿🇦

South Africa enter their second World Cup still searching for their first win there, fueled by the fire of winning their first ever AFCON trophy last summer. Led by former Banyana Banyana player Desiree Ellis, the team arrived in New Zealand after a heated pay dispute led to a standoff before their home sendoff against Botswana, though reports indicate the dispute is settled. Ellis has evolved a more adaptable style of play into the team, one that is less reliant on possession and makes use of their speed and skill in attack. Racing Louisville striker Thembi Kgatlana embodies that best. Kgatlana scored first in South Africa’s final tune-up last weekend, and looks poised to continue that pace into the tournament.

iii. Italy 🇮🇹

Italy approach the World Cup having made an impressive quarter-final appearance in 2019, but falling last in their group with just one point at last summer’s Euros. With a multi-generational side that includes 16-year-old Giulia Dragoni (Barcelona), Italy will aim to escape second from this group. On paper, they’re surely capable, but we all know where the game is played, and both Argentina and South Africa are threatening underdog contenders.

iv. Argentina 🇦🇷

Argentina will fight to progress in their fourth all-time World Cup and second consecutive appearance, having yet to move forward from the group stage. In fact despite two respectable draws in 2019, they’ve also yet to nick a win there. Led by the fluid motions of Estefanía Banini (Atletico Madrid), who scored one of Argentina’s four goals in their final friendly with Peru, and Yamila Rodríguez, their top scorer in Copa America, Argentina will challenge this group. But their first hurdle will be collecting their first win Down Under.

IV. News and Notes

• Inside Telemundo’s plan to cover the full Women’s World Cup entirely in Spanish for the first time ever in the United States.

• Spain’s captain, Ivana Andres, apologized to a local tribe in New Zealand this Monday, acknowledging a widely criticized video of La Roja seemingly mocking the haka, a ceremonial Māori war dance.

• Ireland’s Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage) removed the boot and was back in light training this Monday, instilling hope that she’ll be ready for Ireland’s match with Australia this week. More details on events following Ireland’s abandoned match with Colombia, and Irish hope for O’Sullivan.

• ‘Not just a fluke’: Reporting from Canada’s camp indicates players eager to prove their gold medal in Tokyo wasn’t a ‘fluke’. Veteran leader Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns) and Chelsea midfielder Jessie Fleming have relayed hopes of winning it all, allowing themselves to dream of it, proving their quality on the next big stage.

V. Parting Shots

“To be able to see the ‘up close and personal Pinoe’... to be close to that has been really special. And I hope that we all send her out on high.”

A tearful Kelley O’Hara told media on Tuesday that ‘Pinoe’ is just as great behind the scenes while discussing the retirement of an American original.