Tag Archives: World Cup 2026

Roundup: World Cup, America 250, Local Stuff Too …

The Clubhouse has been Westport’s go-to spot, for many World Cup matches.

For something different for today’s Argentina-Cape Verde game (Friday, 6 p.m.), consider a watch party in Stamford — hosted by Congressman Jim Himes.

The Round of 32 event is at Third Place by Half Full Brewery. Fans of both teams — and the USA — are welcome. So are all Democrats, Republicans, independents — and everyone else.

That’s the World Cup magic!

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What do freedom, faith, hope and responsibility mean, as America celebrates its 250th anniversary?

Weston’s Norfield Congregational Church invites everyone to participate in a 4-week sermon series exploring those questions.

“A New Birth of Freedom: America at 250 — Beautiful. Broken. Beloved. Becoming” begins this Sunday (July 5, 10 a.m.). Through scripture, reflection and honest conversation, the series examines how people of faith can engage the nation’s milestone with gratitude, humility, courage and hope.

Senior minister Rev. Dr. Bernard Wilson says, “This is not a partisan series. It is a Gospel series. We are not gathering around a flag, but around Christ’s table. Our goal is to explore what faithful citizenship and Christian hope look like in a complex and changing world.”

The series will be complemented by special musical offerings from American composers and hymn writers. For more information, click here.

Norfield Congregational Church

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Also in the spirit of our semiquincentennial: The Westport Garden Club invites the community to a free “American Spirit 250” event.

The patriotic exhibition — a gift to the the town — showcases the talents of club members through horticulture and floral design, and educational displays.

The National Garden Club Small Standard Flower Show is set for the Westport Library on July 11 (noon to 5 p.m.) and July 12 (1 to 3 p.m.).

The Westport Garden Club began celebrating America 250 in April, placing floral displays placed town. They’ll continue the effort on patriotic dates through the rest of the year.

Westport Garden Club members Louise Demakis, Janet Wolgast and Joanne Heller.

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As always, the Parks & Recreation Department did a spectacular job — not just with last night’s fireworks, but the cleanup that followed too.

Working through the night, after 10,000 guests left, they made sure that Compo Beach was pristine for the holiday weekend.

Meanwhile, the dozens of very important port-a-potties were trucked away. They too will be cleaned, and ready for whatever comes next.

(Photo/Amy Schneider)

PS: More props to Parks & Rec, for keeping the bathrooms by the lifeguard shack open. In years past, they were inexplicably closed during the biggest night of the year.

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Local artist Tammy Winser is this month’s Westport Book Shop artist exhibitor.

Her whimsical “So They Say” collection combines acrylic and collage, celebrating animals with human expressions and personalities. Winser’s thought-provoking works capture the humor and absurdity of everyday life.

An artist reception is set for July 16 (6 p.m.). The exhibit will be open during business hours throughout July, with all work available for purchase.

Meanwhile, the Book Shop’s Short Story Club meets July 22 (6 p.m.).

This month’s discussion focuses on stories by American writers, about conversations:

  • “Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut,” by J.D. Salinger
  • “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love,” by Raymond Carver
  • “What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank,” by Nathan Englander

Space is limited. To register, call 203-349-5141, or email RSVP@westportbooksaleventures.org.

Tammy Winser

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The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) is seeking candidates to fill the District 7 vacancy created by the death of Jack Klinge.

No political party affiliation is required. as Westport’s RTM is a nonpartisan legislative body. Interested District 7 representatives can submit a resume and brief statement of intent to town clerk Jeffrey Dunkerton (jdunkerton@westportct.gov) by July 20.

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After all the partying and noise at last night’s fireworks, let’s take it down a notch.

Sit back relax, and enjoy this serene “Westport … Naturally” photo:

(Photo/Saranda Berisa)

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And finally … okay, back up a notch again:

(Hooray for the red, white and blue. And for “06880” too! Even on a holiday weekend, we work for you. If you appreciate what we do, please click here to support your hyper-local blog. Thank you!)

The World Cup Comes Here. Thanks, Brian Reich!

The World Cup began yesterday in Russia. Americans are watching wistfully. For the first time since 1986, we failed to qualify for the biggest sports event on the planet. (Let’s go, Iceland!).

But we’ll be there in 2026.

On Wednesday, FIFA announced that — after 2022 in Qatar — the World Cup will be hosted jointly by the US, Canada and Mexico.

We beat back a bid by Morocco — and ran up the score, 134 votes to 65 — thanks in part to a Westport native.

Brian Reich

Brian Reich grew up here, playing goalkeeper on local travel teams and for Greens Farms Academy.

A huge fan, he sat several rows away from Pele at the opening match of the 1999 Women’s World Cup. He and his wife Karen Dahl — a former standout player at Danbury High School — took their 2 soccer-playing kids to the Women’s World Cup final in Vancouver in 2015.

Brian blogged every day about the 2014 World Cup. He loves the game’s simplicity, beauty and accessibility — and the excitement that comes every 4 years, when the entire globe stops for a month, to share the sport.

But for years, he made his living in politics. He worked as a speechwriter in the Clinton White House, and served as Vice President Al Gore’s briefing director.

He formed a digital strategy company that consulted on political campaigns around the country, then branched out to areas like global branding, media, startups and non-profits. 

Brian wrote for the New York Times, Fast Company, Fortune, Tech Crunch, Vice, Wired and AdAge, and appeared on NPR and Fox News.

Yet the pull of soccer remained strong. Brian analyzed and developed data to push groups like US Soccer and Major League Soccer to think differently about fan engagement.

Last August, he began a new gig: communications director for what was called the “United Bid.”

His primary responsibility was writing the Bid Book. Submitted to FIFA, it laid out the vision and strategy for how the 3 North American countries would host the 2026 World Cup.

He also helped shape the message and media strategy, and worked wth all cities involved in the bid. The small team — 6 full-time staffers — communicated not only with FIFA, but 3 very different national soccer federations.

Since signing on last summer, Brian says, “it’s been a sprint to the finish.” He and his colleagues hosted FIFA officials for visits, and answered countless questions.

A week ago, he flew to Moscow for bid rehearsals and final preparations. On the final day he was the first person in the building, running one last set of technical checks.

When Brian walked into the building at 6:30 a.m. to check on final preparations, he saw this: the actual World Cup. (Photo/Brian Reich)

Six hours later, United Bid officials delivered their final argument. Brian had slept only 3 to 4 hours a night for 10 days. But he was not tired.

Or nervous.

“I was excited,” he recalls. “I knew we had done everything possible to put ourselves in a position to win. The rest was out of our hands.”

He was careful not to be too confident. He’d been in war rooms on election nights — and was on Gore’s campaign during the long 2000 recount.

Some members of his group had been part of the American bid 7 years ago, when Russia and Qatar pulled the rug out from under us.

Still, FIFA’s general secretary showed a giant slide, comparing the United and Morocco bids. It was clear to all that the North American one was vastly superior.

The final presentation in Moscow. (Photo/Brian Reich)

Suddenly, the announcement came. Hugs were shared. Tears flowed. It was, Brian says, “an incredible moment.”

He’s already looking forward to 2026. First though, there’s the little matter of the current World Cup.

The US is not playing. But like most soccer fans, Brian loves the international game.

Spain could contend for the title this year, he says. France is interesting. It’s hard to bet against the Germans. Iceland could shock the world, and go deep.

He has no favorite team this year. Instead, he headed to the opening match — Saudi Arabia versus host Russia — and then flew home.

He’ll watch the rest of the games with his family on TV.

The entire world will do the same 8 years from now. Except for those of us lucky enough to watch in person, when — thanks in part to Brian Reich — the World Cup comes to North America.

Brian Reich near Red Square.