Let's Play A Game!
World Cup Bingo, anyone?
Hey there friends,
As many of you know, World Cup 2026 is going on around us and I have been completely lost in the joy (and the heartbreak) of it all for the last 17 days. It has truly been a much needed bright spot in my life this year.
It has also been an absolute pleasure and privilege to enjoy this tournament while part of it is going on here in my own back yard of New York City. I’ve spent a few days at bars with friends, a few days at the Queens HQ Fan Zone, and I’ve truly enjoyed riding the trains wrapped in the flags of two competing teams. What. A. Joy.
Needless to say, this whole tournament is the entire spirit of Speaking Tongues podcast. Cultural and linguistic diversity on full display. I could not be happier seeing fans doing the Viking Row all over the country, or seeing Congo fans doing the Fimbu celebration when they score, the Tartan Army that has charmed all of us in the US from Boston down to Miami and the list goes on.
In case you’ve missed it, I have two videos up on YouTube where I’m doing short interviews with local fans. I had put out a call to local New Yorkers looking for guests to talk about how they support their teams and what their connections are to the country they represent. I had hoped to make this a weekly series and that didn’t happen but luckily I was able to talk to with two local die hard fans about their allegiances. These short conversations are so much fun— and one of them was even recorded outside in the middle of Manhattan! Take a look here and be sure to subscribe to Speaking Tongues on YouTube, too!
Speaking of YouTube, I’ve been on YouTube live making videos nightly about the matches of the day and any other cool things that I’ve noticed (or want to complain about) throughout the tournament. I’ve never done anything like this at all so, going live can be a bit scary but, I think I’m starting to get the hang of it. In the group stage, I was aiming to go on between the second to last and the last match of the day. In this next round, I will aim to go on around 7pm each night. I would love it if you would join me, subscribe to the channel if you want to leave a comment or answer the question of the day, and bring your opinions because it’s designed to be a hangout and a conversation!
Click here for the most recent live chat:
Today, this tournament is heading into the knockout phase, also known as the Round of 32. There will be no more tied matches and no more “next times”. It’s win or go home from now until July 19.
And to keep the joy rolling, I’ve created a bingo card that you can use. Family fun, group fun, and a little something different than just making a bracket of predictions. I also have it up on my Instagram so if you want to play it virtually, you can. However, if you want to print it out, it’s below:
I hope you’re all having as much fun during the World Cup as I am. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention that there are ALSO new episodes of Speaking Tongues out all month. They are up on my YouTube page (audio only) as well as on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
For those of you who enjoy reading, I also have a post coming up on Reading Around the World during the World Cup with book recommendations from each country that took part in the tournament. If you can’t wait for that newsletter, the posts are up on my Instagram page and the full list of books is available for purchase through my Bookshop dot org affiliate is here. Please note, through your purchase with this link, I may receive a small commission of the sale. And every little bit of commission helps to keep this podcast and this platform going!
Hope you’re all having a great day and happy soccer/fútbol/futebol watching!
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