Folarin Balogun's journey to USMNT heroism and the empty World Cup seats
Tamerra Griffin and Carl Anka recap the United States' 4-1 victory over Paraguay, followed by a discussion of Folarin Balogun's journey to becoming a two-goal hero and an investigation into the empty seats in Guadalajara and Santa Clara.
The Athletic's Tamerra Griffin and Carl Anka recap the United States' dominating 4-1 win over Paraguay, as they explore the unique story behind the scenes: how Folarin Balogun rose to become a two-goal hero and why there are clearly empty seats at some 'sold-out' World Cup games.
They join Paul Tenorio, senior soccer writer, to discuss Balogun's tortuous journey — from club challenges and national team selection to his performance that contributed to the United States' big win. Balogun's two goals proved his huge contribution to the game and gave the panel context the importance of this kind of breakout performance for his international career.
In addition to the match recap, the show explored a growing mystery of the tournament: why are large sections of empty seats visible at officially 'sold out' games in Guadalajara and Santa Clara? Elias Burke, insider, joined to explain the reasons — from the difference in the method of counting attendance, to the large part of corporate and institutional ticket allocations, to the advisories and the effect of extreme heat on some days of the game.
<figure style="margin:2rem 0;overflow:hidden;border:1px solid #e2e2e2;background:#f9f9f9"><img src="https://static01.nyt.com/athletic/uploads/wp/2026/06/15103444/260615.png?width=1200&height=630&fit=cover" alt="Image" style="width:100%;height:auto;object-fit:contain" loading="lazy" /></figure>The lifestyle and style angle of the tournament was also not missed. Hannah Vanbiber arrives to discuss the science behind the growing hot-pink boot trend seen among players, and shares insight into the debates over how teams should be ranked in an era full of surprise and change.
The episode provided a combination of match recaps, personal player stories, and a deeper investigation into World Cup operations — from the pitch to the stadium seats. The panel held that these issues have a direct impact on the fan experience and the image of the tournament as the FIFA World Cup 2026 progresses.
(Sandigan: The Athletic — hosted/produced by Tamerra Griffin, Carl Anka; with Paul Tenorio, Elias Burke, and Hannah Vanbiber.)
