Owned Goals

The summer of soccer is over. On Sunday, Spain and Argentina both triumphed after late scores lifting the European Championship and Copa América trophies, respectively. Argentina’s victory over Colombia was marred by off-field controversy, however. As kickoff approached, Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium was overwhelmed by fans: Some had fake tickets, others forced their way in, while hundreds, perhaps th...

On Sunday, France witnessed one of the most surprising political events in years: In the second round of parliamentary elections, the New Popular Front, a left-wing coalition, staved off the French far right, which was poised to grab power for the first time since World War II. France’s soccer team was less fortunate—they were felled by Spain in an entertaining game two days later. But the team sh...

The 2024 Copa América was supposed to be a coming-out party for the United States Men’s National Soccer Team. Team USA had boasted a strong performance at the 2022 World Cup—and was gearing up to host the sport’s biggest tournament in 2026. Instead, it crashed out of the tournament in the group stage, losing 1-0 to Uruguay on home soil. In the fourth episode of Owned Goals, hosts Alex Shephard, Mi...

In the lead-up to Euro 2024, both pundits and the tournament’s organizers expected the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has been stuck in a bloody stalemate for over a year, to be at the center of the conversation. Public support for Ukraine in is on the wane in Europe—far-right parties are ascendent in many countries, and several are pro-Russia, or at least skeptical that the European Union and its...

On Friday, the Copa América soccer tournament kicked off in Atlanta, with Argentina defeating a spirited Canadian team 2-0. This year marks the second time the United States has hosted the tournament. The first fell during another pivotal election year: 2016. Ordinarily a South American tradition, the 2024 games represent, in a way, a celebration of unity in the Western Hemisphere. But they're als...

Euro 2024, Europe’s quadrennial soccer tournament, begins on Friday in Germany in a climate of profound political uncertainty. The far right made massive gains in the European Parliament elections on June 9. In the coming weeks, France and England will both hold elections that could dramatically change each nation’s respective future. On the first episode of Owned Goals, a limited series exploring...