Tunnel #45 — It’s still called football

And Real Madrid have gone back to green

And so, just like that, the World Cup is gone. No more hydration breaks, Lionel Messi or Lamine Yamal. All we’ve got left are these incredible pictures by Vittorio Moro capturing Barcelona celebrating Spain’s triumph, and the certainty that it’s not soccer, it’s still called football.

That line, repeated over and over after Belgium knocked out the United States, ended up saying much more than anyone intended. The USMNT’s early exit wasn’t just another disappointing tournament—it exposed the contradictions of a football ecosystem that still struggles to turn the world’s biggest sporting market into a genuine football nation.

Behind the memes and the mockery lies a system built on pay-to-play, increasingly shaped by private equity, constrained by the unique rules of MLS and impossible to compare with the extraordinary path that made the United States a global powerhouse in women’s football. The World Cup may have accelerated football’s cultural momentum across America, but building a country capable of consistently producing world-class players is a much longer game.

Some new kits have been released, including AS Roma’s new home jersey featuring the old crest. There are mainly away kits, and there is something for everyone. In Serie A, Inter’s kit was inspired by the New York Yankees, AC Milan celebrated the 20th anniversary of their 2007 UEFA Champions League triumph in Athens, Napoli paid tribute to their connection with Argentina and New Balance went full 1990s with Atalanta. On top of that, Chelsea have a black and yellow kit, while Real Madrid have gone back to green.

nss sports and and Cisalfa Sport wrapped up their summer with a final event at Bar Sport in Milan, before the World Cup final. It was a closing party to remember: here are the best photos.

Juventus has brought pink back with its new 2026/27 Away jersey, paying tribute to the club's earliest days. Before the iconic black-and-white stripes became synonymous with the Bianconeri, pink was the first official colour ever worn by the team.

Erling Haaland gained almost 30 million Instagram followers during the 2026 World Cup. This remarkable figure largely flew under the radar, overshadowed by the viral rise of Cape Verdean goalkeeper Vozinha and New Zealand defender Tim Payne. This is how he did it.

It’s almost holiday time for us. Next week’s issue will be the last one before our three-week break. We hope you’ll be taking a break too. If you’re planning to fly somewhere, please be careful not to fall in love at the airport. Not with a footballer or the love of your life.

Already missing football? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of the craziest pre-season friendlies of summer 2026. See you next week.