The United States’ first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was on Friday night, and there’s one Detroit Lion who’s particularly excited about it.
The Detroit News’ Nolan Bianchi caught up with U.S. Men’s National Team superfan Jake Bates as the Stars and Stripes prepare to take on Paraguay at 9 p.m. at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles. Bates was asked if any Lion could join the USMNT roster, who would it be?
“That’d be me,” he said. “That’d be like a dream come true watching the World Cup and thinking,
man, that’s going to be me one day.”
Wrong, turns out you’d become a professional NFL kicker for a Super Bowl-contending team. Not too shabby.
He was also asked who he would add to the Lions roster, and said Chris Richards. Considering the defender is currently nursing an ankle injury, let’s maybe keep a healthier roster. Though he may end up playing against Paraguay tonight.
Other predictions: the U.S. and Paraguay make it out of the Group Stage, Falorun Balogun will score the most goals, the U.S. will make it to the semifinal, and more.
While he’s here in Michigan for OTAs, Bates says he’s got tickets to see USMNT take on Australia in Seattle next week. For the final Group Stage match the following week, he’ll be back home in Texas.
“I have some friends from home that I used to play soccer with that I’m sure we’ll get together with,” he said.
You can watch the full, fun video here. Very nicely done, Nolan.
And onto the rest of your notes.
- Over on the Feed, user UpAllNight sparked some debate about the Lions’ starting O-line. Could Miles Frazier make the cut?
- Great stuff here. Woodward Sports’ Spencer Raxter caught up with a few actors and former Lion Eric Ebron at a recent charity golf outing.
- “From a safety breakout starter to expanded WR roles and a rising interior DL piece, there are some under-the-radar names ready to reshape the depth chart” A to Z Sports’ Mike Payton offers five Lions who are about to be much bigger deals in 2026.
- Your daily dose of hype up content from OTAs.
- NFL.com’s Tom Blair attempts to build the best NFL team money can buy under the 2026 salary cap, and three Lions made the roster.
- Some Detroit sports fans still grappling with the fact captain Dylan Larkin requested a trade may be comparing it to the Matthew Stafford trade. Detroit Free Press’ Shawn Windsor explores how the two situations compare, but mostly how they don’t. ($)
