"This Should Be A Podcast"

I’ve had countless conversations with my buddy, Nate Abaurrea, through the years. Whether these conversations are enjoyed in Tijuana with tequila or via text, someone will likely suggest at the end of them that it “should have been a podcast”. So that’s what we did on Monday. Nate and I reflected on the 2026 World Cup and how we balance the joy produced by the tournament with the uncomfortable reality of the political fuckery surrounding it. We discussed how the matches, atmosphere and shared fan experiences can still be thrilling even while acknowledging the bigger issues off the field. “Yo Fumando Porro y Tomando Vinoooo” will last forever as will the memories provided by Leo Messi, Erling Haaland, Vozinha's saves and countless others. The episode included our favorite moments from the tournament, the performances and scenes that made this World Cup memorable, and why we didn’t jump on the “everyone hates Argentina / the World Cup is rigged” narrative. It was a conversation about loving the game while still being honest about everything around it. The duality of being a sports fan in 2026. We also talked about the Final and the predictable reaction to it, what takeaways there were from the overall experience with special shoutouts to Gilberto Mora of Club Tijuana and Lamine Yamal. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com