soccer

The Bidens, Taylor Swift, Megan Thee Stallion, And Many More Helped The USWNT Announce Its Women’s World Cup Roster

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The United States women’s national team is headed to Australia and New Zealand this summer with the hopes of becoming the first team to ever win the FIFA Women’s World Cup three times in a row. After lifting the World Cup in Canada in 2015 and France in 2019, the Americans have their sights set on history — not only would going back-to-back-to-back be unprecedented, but winning this time around with mark the fifth time they’ve won the tournament.

Wednesday was a big day for the team, as U.S. Soccer announced the 23 players who will make up the squad this time around. Beyond the release that includes the full list of players, the USWNT had some fun by lining up some of the biggest names in sports, entertainment, and politics to help with the announcement — in a video posted to the official USWNT Twitter account, Joe and Jill Biden, Issa Rae, Mariska Hargitay, Taylor Swift, Shaquille O’Neal, Megan Thee Stallion, Tina Fey, Rainn Wilson, Blake Lively, Lamorne Morris, Mikaela Shiffrin, Amy Rodriguez, Gabrielle Union, Matt Turner, Sophia Bush, Kelly Slater, Breanna Stewart, Tim Howard, Quinta Brunson, Mia Hamm, John Cena, Jalen Hurts, Brooke Baldwin, and Lil Wayne all read off the names of members of the roster.

And here is the full roster, via U.S. Soccer:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Aubrey Kingsbury* (Washington Spirit; 1), Casey Murphy* (North Carolina Courage; 14), Alyssa Naeher*** (Chicago Red Stars; 90)

DEFENDERS (7): Alana Cook* (OL Reign; 24/1), Crystal Dunn** (Portland Thorns FC; 131/24), Emily Fox* (North Carolina Courage; 28/1), Naomi Girma* (San Diego Wave FC; 15/0), Sofia Huerta* (OL Reign; 29/0), Kelley O’Hara**** (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 157/3), Emily Sonnett** (OL Reign; 74/1)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Savannah DeMelo* (Racing Louisville FC; 0/0), Julie Ertz*** (Angel City FC; 118/20), Lindsey Horan** (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 128/27), Rose Lavelle** (OL Reign; 88/24), Kristie Mewis* (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 51/7), Ashley Sanchez* (Washington Spirit; 24/3), Andi Sullivan* (Washington Spirit; 44/3)

FORWARDS (6): Alex Morgan**** (San Diego Wave FC; 206/121), Megan Rapinoe**** (OL Reign; 199/63), Trinity Rodman* (Washington Spirit; 17/2), Sophia Smith* (Portland Thorns FC; 29/12), Alyssa Thompson* (Angel City FC; 3/0), Lynn Williams* (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 52/15)

*: First Women’s World Cup
**: Second Women’s World Cup
***: Third Women’s World Cup
****: Fourth Women’s World Cup

The USWNT will begin group play on July 23 against Vietnam. From there, the squad will play The Netherlands — which it beat in the 2019 Final — on July 27 before wrapping up group play on August 1 against Portugal.

Lionel Messi Reportedly Joining Inter Miami

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The future of soccer superstar Lionel Messi has been the subject of much debate in recent months. Despite joining French giants PSG in 2021, Messi has never seemed to feel at home in Ligue 1. Despite winning the league in his first season, Messi appeared unhappy with his performance and vowed to improve. While the 2022/23 campaign brought another league title, things were falling apart behind the scenes.

Messi appeared unhappy at the club and that began to boil over into public view during and after the World Cup. First, there was Argentina’s shock World Cup loss to Saudi Arabia. People were quick to note that Messi is a very vocal brand ambassador for Saudi Arabia. However, the straw that broke the camel was an unsanctioned in-season trip Messi took to the nation. Messi was officially released on June 3.

Messi To Choose Inter Miami

PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 3: Lionel Messi #30 of Paris Saint-Germain watches his free kick taken on the edge of the penalty area during the Paris Saint-Germain V Clermont, French Ligue 1 regular season match at Parc des Princes on June 3, 2023, in Paris, France (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

Three primary candidates stood out as Messi’s next destination. First, there was the possibility of a return to Barcelona, where Messi played between 2003 and 2021. Then there was a move to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, which would see Messi follow in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. Finally, there were reports that Messi could be joining Inter Miami, the Florida-based team owned by David Beckham.

Al Hilal appeared to be the frontrunner after making an initial offer to Messi in April. Various numbers were floated, with some going as high as $436 million a year. Elsewhere, a Barcelona reunion seemed unlikely due to the club’s mounting financial problems. However, a new report suggests that Inter Miami is now the likely destination for Messi. the BBC first reported the news but at this time Inter Miami has declined comment. Despite this, ESPN has reported that sources within the Al Hilal camp expect Messi to take his talents to the MLS. This is a developing story and we’ll have any updates here at HotNewHipHop.

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Kanye West & Kim Kardashian Continue To Co-Parent At Saint’s Soccer Game

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Kanye West and Kim Kardashian were both in attendance at their son Saint’s soccer game in Tarzana on Sunday. In photos obtained by TMZ, both parents appeared cordial while co-parenting their children. A witness for the outlet described the two as appearing to be on decent terms, making small talk and discussing Saint’s performance throughout the game.

West and Kardashian have been separated since early 2021. At one of their kids’ recent sporting events, Ye brought his partner, Bianca Censori, although she wasn’t present at Sunday’s game. Kardashian appears to be single since dating Pete Davison from November 2021 through August 2022.

Kanye West & Kim Kardashian With Their Kids

NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 29: Kim Kardashian, Kanye West with North West and Saint West are spotted in the Upper East Side on August 29, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Alo Ceballos/GC Images)

In total, West and Kardashian share four kids. They welcomed their daughter, North, in June 2013, their son, Saint, in December 2015, their second daughter, Chicago in January 2018, and their second son, Psalm, in May 2019.

Kardashian previously discussed the difficulty of co-parenting with West during an appearance on the Angie Martinez IRL podcast in December. “It’s hard. Shit like co-parenting, it’s really fucking hard,” she shared while wiping tears from her eyes. “I had the best dad. And I had the best memories and the greatest experience. And that’s all I want for my kids. As long as they can have that, that’s what I want for them. So, if they don’t know things that are being said, or what’s happening in the world, why would I ever bring that energy to them? That’s real heavy, heavy grown-up shit. And they’re not ready to deal with it, you know? When they are, we’ll have those conversations. And I’ll be so prepared. But until then, I’ll do anything to keep their life as normal as possible.”

Kardashian also said that she had prevented her kids from knowing the extent of West’s recent erratic behavior. “I definitely protected him and I still will in the eyes of my kids, for my kids,” she said during the interview.

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Hollywood In Attendance As Wrexham Gets “Ted Lasso” Moment

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Wrexham Football Club is a soccer team in the fifth tier of English soccer. They’ve been there since 2008, when they were relegated from League Two, the fourth tier of English soccer and its lowest professional tier. Over the last 14 seasons, their best finish was 2nd in 2012. However, you best know Wrexham because Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought the club in 2020. They turned the small club on the England-Wales border into an international sensation

In a lot of ways, Wrexham is very similar to AFC Richmond, the fictional club at the heart of Apple TV’s Ted Lasso. Both were struggling clubs that find a new lease on life after the intervention of a pragmatic American. Last season, Wrexham again finished second but lost in the promotion play-offs in a heartbreaking 5-4 game against Grimsby. Ahead of this season, Wrexham brought in a wave of new signings, including former Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster.

Wrexham Finally Secure Promotion

On April 22, 2008, a 2-0 defeat to Hereford officially relegated Wrexham from the Football League. 15 years later to the day, the atmosphere couldn’t have been more different. Amongst the near-capacity crowd, Reynolds, McElhenney sat alongside Ant-Man star Paul Rudd. The trio watched Wrexham take to their home pitch for the final time this season to take on play-off hopefuls Boreham Wood. Earlier in the season, the two sides had played out a 1-1 draw

At the end of Ted Lasso‘s first season, we watch Richmond relegated in heart-breaking fashion. The show’s second season ends with them jubilantly promoted. It’s a fitting analogy for Wrexham in 2008 and 2023. Hollywood was there to witness a dominant 3-1 performance by the home side as Wrexham took the win and were officially crowned National League champions. However, that came after a heart-stopping moment as Boreham Wood slotted home a goal in the first minute of the game. As the crowd cheered, Reynolds embraced keeper Ben Foster. “Never in doubt!” Reynolds can barely be heard saying over the blaring music and roar of the crowd. Wrexham and their Hollywood owners believed, and now they are ready to make the Football League take note.

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These FIFA World Cup Players Have The Best Off-Field Style

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Since its thrilling finish, the 2022 FIFA World Cup has been the topic of widespread conversation. Messi’s impressive goals that contributed to Argentina’s success and Kyrian Mbappe’s rise as a worthy opponent aroused increasing interest in the players. Fans wanted to know all about who was on the field, from their stats to their personal lives. Speaking of Mbappe, he’s not the only 2022 FIFA World Cup player giving David Beckham a run for his money. Beckham is known as a top fashion sports star with his unique style. However, there are several others who add their name to the list of players to watch. From Alphonso to Hwang, here are the FIFA World Cup players with the best off-field flair.

Virgil van Dijk Of Liverpool FC And The Netherlands National Team

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 23: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool poses for a portrait in the photo booth prior to The Best FIFA Football Awards 2019 at Excelsior Hotel Gallia on September 23, 2019 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Michael Regan – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Virgil van Dijk is a Dutch soccer star and one of the world’s best defenders. He once went an incredible 65 games without being dribbled past in the Premier League.  Not long ago, the footballer who captained the Netherlands at the 2022 FIFA World Cup came within a handful of votes to deny Lionel Messi yet another Best FIFA Men’s Player award. 

He’s famous for donning the red Liverpool jersey and the orange of the Netherlands national team on the field. Off it, the 6’5″ footballer dresses down in suits with looser fits. Additionally, van Dijk is a big fan of Nike. Some of van Dijk’s memorable gear by the brand include a pair of blue cleats, Air Max 1 An­niver­sary, and a kha­ki NSW HD Wo­ven scope jacket. 

Alphonso Davies Of FC Bayern Munich And Canada Men’s National Soccer Team 

MUNICH, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 25: Alphonso Davies of FC Bayern Muenchen arrives at Franz-Josef-Strauss International Airport Munich on September 25, 2020 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Despite his young years, Alphonso Davies has already accomplished much on the field. The Canadian soccer star is considered one of the best full-backs because of his speed, skill, and ingenuity. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Alphonso became the first Canadian to score in a World Cup for his country. His reputation as the public face of the men’s national team may be why he’s considered one of the best-dressed athletes in the world. 

The soccer player wears the trendiest streetwear, including custom sneakers in unique colors and designs. Davies’s wardrobe boasts various fashionable items, including a Raptors jersey and a pair of Amiri logo-print distressed black jeans. Davies also boasts Off-White’s out-of-office arrows-motif sneakers and a Hypeneedz black dreaming Lamborghini t-shirt.

Hwang Hee-Chan Of Wolverhampton Wanderers And South Korea National Team

Hwang Hee-Chan is a forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers and the South Korean national team. Hwang’s “Bull” moniker originates from the South Korean public’s perception of his ferocious play. Hee-Chan scored a goal in a 3-3 tie with Germany in a group-stage match at the 2016 Summer Olympics. He also scored in the 92nd minute to give South Korea a 2-1 win over Portugal and a spot in the knockout phase of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 

Regarding style and fashion, the South Korean native is one the most stylish players thanks to his streetwear approach. His typical off-field attire consists of patterned shorts and shirts that match, understated silver chains, caps, bucket hats, and sneakers. Hee-Chan is a Ferragamo fan and has worn Gucci in magazine editorials.

Kylian Mbappé Of Paris Saint-Germain And France National Team

PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 27: Kylian Mbappe poses ahead of the Best FIFA Football Awards 2022 at Salle Pleyel on February 27, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michael Regan – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Kylian Mbappé, a French soccer player with exceptional talent, acquired a legion of new fans worldwide even if France didn’t take home the 2022 World Cup. Mbappé became the most expensive teen ever when he secured a permanent deal with Paris Saint-Germain for €180 million at 18. He has become the club’s all-time second-leading scorer, winning four Ligue 1 championships and three Coupes de France. 

Mbappé scored in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final, making him the second teenager in history to do so (after Pelé). He was also the youngest French player ever to score at a World Cup. The fashion world has noticed Mbappé, and many brands are vying for him to represent them. The French player likes flashy, sporty ensembles, albeit he often features rich touches like expensive jewelry. His finest accessories include a Goyard toilette travel case, a Dior logo Boston bag, and a Hublot big bang one-click steel white pave watch.  

Joachim Andersen Of Crystal Palace And The Denmark National Team

Crystal Palace and Denmark national team center-back Joachim Christian Andersen started in his home country of Denmark, where he played for a few junior teams, including F.C. Midtjylland. As a result of making his professional debut in March 2015, Andersen earned a contract extension and was recognized as the Under-19 Talent of the Year by the Danish Football Association. The Danish player is versatile and can play on the right or left side of the central defense or even in defensive midfield.

Off the field, Joachim Anderson loves showcasing his stylish looks on Instagram. From Nike to Han Kjøbenhavn, the soccer player mixes classic and trendy pieces for an aesthetic that is equal parts sleek modern minimalism and laid-back 90s cool.

Kim Kardashian Takes Saint West To Arsenal Game, Films Just One Special Player

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Kim Kardashian made a surprise appearance at the Emirates Stadium in London to watch the Arsenal game with her son Saint West. Moreover, the two seemed to have a good time at the London Eye beforehand, as well as shopping around the city. However, the thing that really caught people’s attention was Kim and Saint’s clear fandom for certain players. While the 42-year-old only filmed star player Bukayo Saka’s shot during penalties, her son wore Arsenal Women star Katie McCabe’s shirt for the occasion. Overall, it seemed that both teams had an impact on the Kardashian-West family, and fans went crazy for it.

Unfortunately, Arsenal lost, but they gained some famous fans and a whole lot of promotion as a result. “Arsenal let Bukayo Saka down. He was a win away from Kim Kardashian sliding into his DM’s,” one social media user joked. However, the football club’s community still expressed a lot of gratitude for their appreciation. For example, McCabe herself posted a snapshot of Saint wearing her jersey and wrote, “Saint West has good taste.” In addition, Kim shared a clip of Saka talking to Saint and his friends via FaceTime, which was quite the sweet moment. It wouldn’t be the first time a quick FaceTime call set up her kid with one of their favorite people.

Kim Kardashian Cheers With Saint At Arsenal Game

While many were surprised that the SKIMS mogul showed up to a soccer game, she’s known to bring out surprises every once in a while. For example, she recently unearthed an old license for a go-kart racing center called the Malibu Grand Prix. Although it sounds unassuming, apparently everyone from Leonardo DiCaprio to Tupac Shakur spun some laps there. It seems like upscale miniature racing, and it’s unfortunately not around anymore.

Still, who knows what other hobbies and fandoms Kim could’ve gotten into over so long? In other news, she’s reportedly looking to date someone who’s not famous after multiple high-profile relationships. Sources said she wants to share her joy with someone, but no news as of yet. Regardless, come back to HNHH for the latest on Kim and the rest of the Kardashian family.

Bukayo Saka Reciprocates The Love

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EXCLUSIVE: Burna Boy To Co-Headline 2023 UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show By Pepsi

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Image via Publicist

“As a huge football fan myself, I know it doesn’t get any bigger than the UEFA Champions League,” Burna Boy said: “That’s why I’m so excited to be performing on the Pepsi stage at this year’s final. Music and football are the ultimate combination, so you already know I’ll be bringing the vibes and making magic in Istanbul. The world ain’t ready for what we have in store!”

Gustavo Reyna, Pepsi’s Senior Director of Global Marketing, added: “The UEFA Champions League Final is the standout date of the club football calendar, and Pepsi prides itself on marking the occasion with the very best entertainment spectacles. The newly named Kick Off Show by Pepsi is going to be huge this year; we’re so excited to welcome Burna Boy, one of the world’s most exciting artists, to the Pepsi x UEFA Champions League stage and we can’t wait to see which fans are selected to feature as part of this truly unmissable performance. Stay tuned to find out who is co-headlining alongside Burna Boy in the weeks to come!” 

The UEFA Champions League Final Kick Off Show is a significant part of our joint efforts with Pepsi, providing an incredible opportunity to reach new and younger audiences with some of the biggest names and rising stars in music. We’re excited to showcase a line-up of talented artists at this season’s Final in Istanbul in what is sure to be an energetic and memorable performance,” said UEFA marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein.

The 2022/23 UEFA Champions League final will take place at Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium on June 10. You can watch the show via your local broadcaster and through the official UEFA YouTube and TikTok channels and stay tuned for more exciting news by following the Pepsi Global social channels.

Salt Bae Roasted For Clout-Chasing At The World Cup

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Salt Bae gained prominence just a few years ago thanks to the viral clip of him sprinkling salt on some steak. His real name is Nusret Goekce, and his fame has skyrocketed since the viral moment. Overall, he is someone who has benefitted greatly from social media. Additionally, his restaurant has become a hot spot for those who want an exceptionally expensive meal.

As it turns out, Salt Bae was at the World Cup on Sunday where Argentina played France in the Final. Of course, by now you all know that Argentina took the win by a score of 4-3 in penalty kicks. Following this win, Salt Bae showed up on the field where he took numerous photos with the World Cup trophy.

Nusret Goekce, nicknamed Salt Bae, kisses the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Winner’s Trophy after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Fans Have Had Enough Of Salt Bae

In numerous videos posted to social media, it became clear that Salt Bae was overstaying his welcome on the pitch. He was pestering numerous players for photos, all while touching and kissing the trophy, which is against FIFA rules. Additionally, players like Lionel Messi seemingly wanted nothing to do with him.

As for fans on Twitter, the reception towards Salt Bae was very much the same. Many seem to think that his fame and success are completely undeserved. Furthermore, others found his insistence on getting a photo to be disrespectful.

“Salt Bae pestering Messi has to be the perfect symbol for all the awful off-field shit hovering around and poisoning anything good about this World Cup. Dismal little character,” one Twitter user wrote. “Who slaps a world cup trophy like it’s a piece of meat? Weirdo!” another said.

Let us know what you think of this latest “controversy,” in the comments down below. Furthermore, keep it locked to HNHH for all of the latest news and updates from the sports world.

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World Cup: Lionel Messi Breaks Silence On Huge Win

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Yesterday, the World Cup was capped off by a massive game between Argentina and France. This was a showdown between two Paris Saint-Germain teammates Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. Early on, Argentina led 2-0, however, a pair of goals from Mbappe tied it up, forcing extra time.

From there, Messi scored his second goal of the game to take a 3-2 lead. Overall, it seemed like the game was over. However, once again, Mbappe scored to tie it on a penalty kick. This eventually forced penalties, where Argentina was finally able to close it all out.

Lionel Messi of Argentina and team celebrate after winning the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Richard Sellers/Getty Images)

World Cup Celebration

This victory is Messi’s first at the World Cup. Quite frankly, many fans felt like he needed this win in order to grab GOAT status from Ronaldo. At this point, it is hard to argue against Messi. Following his big win, however, he did take to Instagram where he offered a message to his fellow Argentinians.

“CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD!!!!!!!” Messi began. “So many times I dreamed it, so much I wanted it that I still don’t fall, I can’t believe it…… Thank you so much to my family, to all who support me and also to all who believed in us. We prove once again that Argentinians when we fight together and united we are able to achieve what we aim.

“The merit is of this group, which is above individuals, is the strength of all fighting for the same dream that was also the one of all Argentinians… We did it!!! LET’S GO ARGENTINA DAMN!!!!!”

There is no doubt that this is the greatest moment of Messi’s career. He scored two goals in the final match and even had a goal in the penalty shootout. Not to mention, this might be the greatest Finale in any sport, ever.

Let us know what you thought of the World Cup Final, in the comments down below. Stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the sports world.

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