FVS is a simplified, lower-cost video-review system designed to give referees a way to review “clear and obvious” match-deciding incidents without the full technical, staffing and camera requirements of a traditional VAR center. It is not VAR with a different name — it’s a different operating model intended mostly for competitions that can’t run full VAR.
Why FIFA introduced it
Accessibility and cost: many member associations asked for a more affordable way to use video to support referees (fewer cameras, no permanent VAR room and a smaller support footprint). FIFA developed FVS to meet that demand.
Control and simplicity: FVS aims to keep the referee at the center of the decision and to provide a framed, limited review process that’s easier to deploy across youth tournaments and lower-budget leagues.
Using technology to support referees around the globe 🖥️⚽️
Football Video Support is the cost-effective alternative to Video Assistant Referee, implemented for competitions with limited human and financial resources. pic.twitter.com/azMhuegPIL
While FVS was initially tested in the Spanish Futsal League (Primera División de Futsal), the first top-flight domestic association football league to fully adopt and debut the system was Spain’s top women’s league, Liga F (also known as the Liga Profesional de Fútbol Femenino) in the beginning of its 2025-2026 season (specifically, in September 2025). Prior to that, FIFA trialed and used FVS at multiple youth tournaments:
Blue Stars / FIFA Youth Cup (trial).
FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (trial in Colombia 2024).
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup (used in 2024 tournament and being included in subsequent youth tournaments).
More recently it has been used at FIFA U-20 (Chile) and U17 (Morocco) youth tournaments and trialed broadly.
What FVS reviews (which incidents can be challenged)
FVS is limited to the same four review categories normally associated with VAR protocols:
Goal/no-goal (including offences in the build up, offside where applicable, handball).
Penalty/no-penalty.
Direct red card incidents (serious foul play, violent conduct, DOGSO, etc.).
Mistaken identity when a referee books/sends off the wrong player.
How FVS works (step-by-step, matchday)
Challenge method: unlike VAR, reviews are initiated by the coaches — each coach gets a limited number of challenge requests (typically two per match; one extra in extra time in competitions that allow it). The coach must hand a challenge card to the fourth official immediately after the incident to trigger a review.
Referee review: the referee goes to a pitch-side monitor (or another on-field review area) to view replays provided by a replay operator using available broadcast/camera feeds, then makes the final decision. There is no separate VAR team continuously monitoring all incidents from a remote control room.
Technology footprint: FVS is intentionally lighter — it generally relies on broadcast camera feeds or a small number of dedicated cameras and a local replay operator rather than a fully equipped VAR control room with many specialist cameras and staff.
Key differences vs VAR (at a glance)
Initiation: VAR can perform “silent checks” and proactively monitor incidents; FVS only reviews when a coach requests a review (challenge).
Staffing/tech: VAR requires a full VAR room, specialist VARs and often many dedicated cameras. FVS needs fewer cameras, a replay operator and no continuous remote video-referee team.
Scope and coverage: VAR continuously watches all key incidents and can intervene; FVS is limited to coach-triggered, narrowly defined reviewable events. That reduces coverage and the chance of automatic correction.
Final authority: in both systems the on-field referee has the final decision after viewing replays, but FVS places more emphasis on the referee doing the review themselves on the sideline rather than relying on a separate VAR team recommendation.
Advantages of FVS
Cost and accessibility — much cheaper to implement, so more competitions (youth, lower leagues, smaller federations) can use video support. That’s the main strategic advantage.
Simplicity — fewer moving parts, simpler procedures and less technical overhead make roll-out faster.
Empowers coaches — gives coaches a structured way to challenge decisions (adds a tactical and accountability element). Some coaches and organizers like that involvement.
Keeps referee central — the on-field referee reviews evidence directly, which supporters say preserves authority and transparency.
Disadvantages / risks compared with VAR
Limited coverage / accuracy — because FVS usually uses broadcast feeds and fewer cameras, very tight technical calls (e.g., marginal offsides requiring frame-by-frame multi-angle geometry) may be harder or impossible to resolve as precisely as with full VAR systems that use multiple dedicated cameras and calibrated offside technology.
Interruptions & tactical misuse — coach challenges stop play and can interrupt momentum; coaches may “game” their challenges (save them for late in the match or use them tactically). Some coaches and observers have raised this concern during trials.
Fewer proactive corrections — because FVS waits for a coach challenge, clear errors that nobody challenges (or situations where coaches don’t want to burn a challenge) can remain uncorrected — whereas VAR’s silent checks can catch incidents that the teams didn’t notice.
Consistency & pressure on referee — the on-field referee must perform the review and deliver the decision in front of teams/fans; that creates different psychological pressures versus VAR where a separate VAR team can make or strongly recommend the call remotely.
Early data & reception
Reports from tournaments and media indicate FVS is being used regularly in youth tournaments and early trials. Coverage from trials shows a modest number of reviews per game (e.g. some reporting cited an average around ~1.4 interventions per match in certain trials, with a large proportion confirming the original decision) — but opinions are mixed: some refereeing authorities and coaches welcome the lower cost and clarity; other stakeholders worry about interruptions and possible tactical use. FIFA and IFAB are monitoring trials and collecting data before deciding on wider roll-out.
Practical example (how a coach challenge looks in real time)
Coaching staff thinks a referee missed a clear handball leading to a goal.
Coaching staff immediately gives the fourth official the challenge card. (If the ball is in play again, the challenge must be given immediately — the Laws require that a decision be changed only before play restarts.)
Referee stops play if necessary, views replays on the pitch-side monitor supplied by the replay operator (using available camera angles), then signals and announces the final decision to the teams and stadium.
Bottom line — when FVS makes sense
FVS is a pragmatic compromise: it’s not meant to replace VAR in elite competitions that can afford full VAR with advanced camera systems, but it does give many more competitions a practical path to use video review for big, match-deciding incidents. For youth tournaments and leagues with limited budgets it’s a realistic step forward; for top professional leagues the trade-offs in precision and continuous monitoring mean many will continue to prefer full VAR — at least until FVS matures or hybrid models appear. It is worth noting that if for whatever reason the FVS technology malfunctions, the match will continue without the system after both team managers and captains have been informed. As for VAR, there’s always room for improvement as depicted by a survey conducted in the UK.
If you would like us to break down any other football topics, please reach out at info@thegomezway.com
Throughout the years, I have witnessed nearly every type of substitution strategy there is in the book of football (aka soccer). One doesn’t have to be a referee to experience these ceremonial, sometimes odd, events. I am sure others, who have been around the game in other capacities (ex. fans, pundits), have observed similar strategic behaviors and perhaps, have normalized them as part of today’s game.
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Unfortunately, these behaviors are here to stay. FIFA, far from discouraging them, does little to properly equip referees with the adequate tools to combat such time-consuming subbing strategies. Some are team and tactical oriented while others are more individual and non-tactical in nature. In the end, they are all time-consuming and serve specific purposes. FIFA has gone as far as mandating additional time be taken to to deal with specific subbing scenarios involving certain player positions (ex. Goalkeepers) or certain injuries (ex. head).
Below, I attempt to explain and classify the possible tactical, psychological, and time-management considerations rather than actual medical reasons used during player substitutions. In some cases, I even provide (and illustrate) some recent examples.
Time Management/Game Management
This strategy normally occurs by the team which is leading late in the game; players oftentimes go down to slow the game tempo and allow their team to reset. It is characterized by a player drop right after the fourth official raises the substitution board (a convenient “pause” before the next phase) and it is intended to have any (or all) the following effects:
Disrupting the opponent’s momentum.
Providing tired teammates a brief breather before a defensive stand.
Allowing the coach to finalize substitution instructions or delaying play strategically.
Psychological or Face-Saving Mechanism
Being subbed off can be a blow to a player’s pride, especially if they have played poorly or disagree with the decision. This strategy is characterized by the player looking disappointed or glancing at the bench, then suddenly sitting down to clutch a leg or calf. It is intended to have the following effects:
Going down “injured” provides a socially acceptable excuse — “I’m coming off because I’m hurt, not because I played badly.”
It helps them preserve face with teammates, fans, and coaches.
Cristiano Ronaldo is known to use this strategy. Moments before the substitution board goes up, he briefly gestures discomfort, touching his leg. Sometimes, there is no real injury, but going down softens the optics of being replaced for tactical reasons. It allows him to preserve ego and control the narrative: “I came off for fitness reasons, not performance.”
This strategy is normally applied when time is not of the essence and the outcome is favorable to the team subbing; however, players like Ronaldo, Vinicius, etc. apply it whenever they deem it necessary.
Masking Fatigue
Fatigue (especially in high-intensity matches) can be extreme, but players often hesitate to admit exhaustion. This strategy is characterized by a late game cramping or calf-grabbing gesture, but the player walks off fine moments later. It is more popular in games played in extreme weather (ex. hot/cold, humid, rainy, etc.), that extend to over regulation or a series of games played over a short duration (ex. tournaments). It is intended to have the following effects:
Falling to the ground signals to the bench: “I’m completely done” without directly saying so.
It gives the physio a reason to check the players (hydrate them) and the coach a window to substitute without appearing to replace a “fit” player (gives an out to the coach).
Players know their bodies best and sometimes they can plow through fatigue albeit risking a more severe injury (ex. overload) that could sideline them for a longer period of time. Therefore, players take the precautionary route, subbing themselves out and hoping to be available for the team soon. Coaches also welcome this honest strategy with open arms as fatigue is not always conspicuous. That said, if the outcome of the game does not go as intended for the team, the coach can always claim that the “unexpected” subs impacted initial technical/tactical game plans.
Tactical Reset Opportunity
A brief pause before a substitution allows a team to regroup. This strategy is characterized by the physio jogging on to the field but no treatment occurs. Since the sport is designed to have very few pauses for coaching, this brief pause provides the coach time to shout instructions from the sideline to specific players. It is intended to have the following effects:
The manager can use the break to relay tactical instructions to several players.
The incoming substitute gets more time to warm up or receive final guidance.
Pep Guardiola is the master of this strategy. In Guardiola Manchester City’s system controlled pauses are gold. Players often blatantly sit down just before a tactical substitution late in matches. It’s rarely coincidental — Guardiola uses these moments to reorganize his press or formation. The physio goes on, but the real value is the 30-second team huddle at the touchline.
If the opponent has momentum (sustained attacks or pressing high) a pause can interrupt their flow. This strategy often occurs after the opposing team has just missed a big chance or started dominating possession. It is intended to have the following effects:
The emotional and physical rhythm of the attacking team is broken.
The defending side can reset shape and composure.
This strategy is very common in competitive matches where one goal is all that is needed to achieve a milestone (ex. win, tie, advancing to next phase) and it’s exacerbated if the team needing to score is continuously applying offensive pressure. The team on the defensive stance often resorts to this strategy to defuse momentum while catching a breather. In the 2023 U20 Men’s World Cup matches, US Coach Mikey Varas instructed Goalkeeper Gaga Slonina to go down late in the second half of most games. This pause would allow Coach Varas and staff to talk to the group. A player substitution was not always conducted.
Cynical / Theatrical Gamesmanship
In some competitions or teams, it’s a deliberate part of “dark arts” (subtle manipulation of the game). This strategy is characterized by a player dramatically sitting or lying down right before their number goes up for a substitution, then sprints off the pitch seconds later. It is intended to have the following effects:
Delays play.
Allows tactical conversations.
Sends a message that the player gave “everything” and is being replaced only because of that “effort.”
An excellent example of this strategy is Atlético de Madrid’s Coach – Diego Simeone. When Atlético are defending a late lead, players often “cramp up” in sync. A player goes down dramatically just before being replaced burning seconds and slowing opponents’ tempo significantly. Pundits call Simenone’s strategy “masterful gamesmanship” acknowledging it as part of a systemic tactical culture which include time-wasting, tactical fouls, simulating injuries, sideline theatrics, and using psychological tactics to frustrate opponents. This approach has earned Atlético the reputation of being masters of “shithousery” and made them one of the most difficult teams to play against in Europe. Diego Simeone transferred his shithousery as a player and perfected the art as a coach.
Preemptive Injury Precaution
Sometimes a player feeling slight tightness or discomfort (ex. hamstring twinge) may go down to prevent worsening it. This scenario is common late in matches or congested fixture schedules. It is intended to have the following effect:
Even if it’s not a true injury, it’s a protective signal — “I felt something; better to come off now.”
It is similar to fatigue but with potential longer lasting effects. Explosive players like Kylian Mbappé who are prone to injuries have used this strategy often. At PSG, Mbappé would gesture discomfort and would sit down before being subbed off. In reality, he was not injured but felt tightness in his hamstring — later confirmed by the manager as precautionary. It’s common for players who partake in multiple matches a week to “go down” preemptively to avoid aggravating micro-injuries. Knowing your body is instrumental for a longer and healthier career in any sport.
In summary, when a player collapses before a substitution without being truly injured, it’s usually about controlling tempo, face-saving, or tactical delay — not deception in the malicious sense, but part of the gamecraft that elite players and managers use to influence moments and margins. In practice, these strategies are used widely not just by elite players but all the way down to the amateur level.
Hope you found this post useful. If you have any suggestions or topics you want discussed, please reach out to info@thegomezway.com. #TGW
2022 left us quickly but not before we added a new member to our family. Now, 2023 is only a couple days away from becoming history; inexorably, we are “silently” leaping (2024 is a leap year) our way to the quarter of a century mark.
As we bid adieu to 2023, let’s recap some personal highlights for the Gómez family, remember some other events of national and global impact. As usual, we try to conclude this post on a positive note with our hopes and expectations for 2024. Enjoy…
January
Personal
USMNT
The year started really well ‘footballwise’ for what would eventually become the best year for the family in terms of national team presence for the boys. Jogo was called to his first US Men’s National Team (USMNT) January camp (and the first one post the Qatar 2022 World Cup). In one of the friendly games played as part of the camp, he managed to play the full 90 minutes against Serbia at ~80% health after having sustained an injury the week prior to camp with his club. We were fortunate that Real Sociedad (RS) released him for camp. This second experience with the USMNT was longer than the first one and we got to see him play once again in beautiful Los Angeles. More on that experience here.
High School “Soccer”/Club Football
Joana made her High School (HS) varsity soccer squad as a freshman and played every single minute of the HS season. That was not a feat in itself but at the end of the season, she received numerous accolades which summarized her successful season.
With club, her team started the year off by traveling to Las Vegas where it captured first place in the top division. The trip, in addition to the football, was very memorable for the family.
National
On January 3rd, then USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter posted the following tweet which quickly snowballed into a series of polarizing events between coach and players. In the months to follow, two interim coaches were utilized as USMNT coaches as Gregg’s future on the field was being evaluated to determine renewal of his contract as USSF coach.
The above tweet would eventually evolve into a series of revelations by Gio Reyna’s parents and Gregg himself. The days following statements by each party were some of the more controversial ones for the USSF which was caught in the middle of it all; however, a few months later, among even more controversy, the USSF reinstated/renewed Gregg as the new (and current) USMNT coach.
Global
On January 2nd, during the traditional Monday Night Football (MNF) game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, safety player Damar Hamlin collapsed from cardiac arrest after immediately tackling an opponent. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) were quickly administered before taking him to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Nine days after the incident, he was discharged to rehabilitate from home and plans to return to football.
February
Personal
In February (late January really), Johan helped Nico Carrera finalize a move to his then Bundesliga.3 club: FSV Zwickau. During pre-season in August of 2022, Nico had been on trial at FSV Zwickau; unfortunately, a much needed loan from Holstein II did not materialize for Nico then. However, in an early January 2023 league game, a sudden and unfortunate season-ending injury to a starter FSV Zwickau Center Back (CB) resurrected the possibility of the loan. With Johan’s great relationship with American Coach Joe Enochs, the loan transaction with Holstein Kiel was finally pushed over the line. At last, “the compadres” were sharing the pitch again just like the FC Dallas days. Unfortunately, Nico’s debut coincided with the sacking of Joe Enochs as the team was in a fierce relegation battle.
On February 7th, Lebron James, at 38, broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA’ long standing scoring record of: 38,387 points. In a night when the Lakers were playing against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Lebron became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with 10.9 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter. The game stopped for over 10 minutes to recognize and celebrate such achievement. Given the popularity of basketball around the world, this event could be classified as global; however, the Super Bowl, normally in that category, and global mother nature events, will always supersede sports.
Global
Earthquake
On February 6th, one of the most devastating earthquakes of a 7.8 magnitude shook up the border between Turkey and Syria. This resulted in more than 35 thousand casualties, leaving millions without a home. Events like these put into perspective the miniscule importance of sports…perspective.
Super Bowl
On February 13th, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the 1.5 point favorites Philadelphia Eagles by a score of 38-35 in Super bowl LVII (57th). Texas native Patrick Mahomes was the MVP of the game. The game was the most-watched program in American history with an average of 115.1 million viewers. The halftime show, featuring Rihanna, reached a high of 118.7 million viewers. As usual, the commercials stole “the show”.
March
Personal
US U20 MNT
Coach Mikey Varas had one last chance to evaluate the available talent pool for the upcoming U20 MNT WC while the team played against the likes of France, England, and Serbia. Selfishly, I not only had a chance to travel to beautiful Marbella, Spain but in the process, I also visited Morocco and France. It was a very fulfilling trip where lots of memories were captured in pictures and videos. Most importantly, I spent some quality time with Jogo and watched some amazing football.
FSV Zwickau
Johan had a productive month of March scoring in consecutive matches. Here is one of the goals he scored in March against Verl.
National
On March 24th, a tornado outbreak broke out south of the Mississippi Valley resulting in widespread heavy rainfall, severe thunderstorms, and significant tornadoes over a four-day period. The total number of tornadoes added up to 33 with 23 fatalities and damages in excess of $1.9 billion. Five states including Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas were impacted by a series of tornadoes. Fortunately, our home did not sustain any damage.
Global
Three small to mid-size US banks suddenly became insolvent negatively impacting global bank stock prices. Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Silvergate, and Signature bank failed for different reasons.
Over a period of just two days, the bank went from solvent to broke as depositors rushed to SVB to withdraw their funds, resulting in federal regulators closing the bank for good on March 10, 2023. SVB’s collapse marked the second largest bank failure in U.S. history after Washington Mutual’s in 2008.
April
Personal
Mom visited Jogo in San Sebastian and Mallorca for the first time this year. Jogo traveled with the first team several times but could not debut in La Liga. As mom returned home to Texas, Jogo made his way out to Argentina with the US team for the U20 WC where he would have a meaningful tournament.
National
March Madness
On April 3rd, the 2023 NCAA March Madness tournament came to an end. UConn defeated San Diego State by a score of 76 to 59 to claim the 2023 NCAA national title. This was the 5th championship for the Huskies men’s basketball program. As a side note, my running horns made it to the Elite Eight before collapsing against the University of Miami Hurricanes.
Global
On April 20, 2023, Elon Musk’s SpaceX performed the first flight of its Starship rocket from Boca Chica Texas (a few miles away from our hometown in Brownsville). The prototype vehicle became the most powerful rocket ever flown. On November 18, 2023, the second test flight was conducted successfully. We were in town for this one. It’s important to keep in mind that these test flights’ goal is to learn as much as possible from each one.
May
This month saw a roller coaster of events for the family. Jogo’s participation in the Argentina U20 WC was a bit offset by FSV Zwickau’s relegation from 3.Bundesliga and the end of Johan’s contract with the club.
Jogo played in every game of the WC given his versatility (and willingness) to play on both sides of the field. Despite the fact that he didn’t start every game, he contributed with a goal and two fouls which directly led to US goals. He scored this beauty of a screamer in Argentina’s U20 WC first game while I was in the stadium. Great feeling.
Johan bid farewell to the wonderful Zwickau fans with this beauty of a goal in his last home game. It was bittersweet and we have nothing but gratitude towards the strong fanbase of the East Germany club. We know we’ll be back in the future. “Einmal ein Schwan, immer ein Schwan“
ECNL
Joana’s team finished the 2022 – 2023 in first place. She grew a lot this past season. Her minutes and contributions were solid. We are very proud of the footballer she’s become.
National
On May 6th, almost a year after the school shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, another mass shooting occurred at the premium outlets in Allen, Texas (a suburb north of Dallas). Nine people, including the perpetrator, were killed during the shooting while seven others were injured. The graphic video below is shared to commend the actions of the officer who not for one second hesitated to go above and beyond his “duties”.
Global
On May 20, Manchester City won their third straight premier league title when Arsenal lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest. They received the trophy the next day and with it, they started a quest for their first treble: Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. As luck would have it, they would win up to five trophies in 2023.
June
The month that marked a jam-packed first half of year and the best was yet to come for the family.
Personal
On June 4th, the U20 WC reached its conclusion for Jogo and the USMNT U20 team. There’s a small chip on Jogo’s shoulder that will be there until the next opportunity with the national team as he didn’t get to play much of the last game against eventual U20 WC Champions: Uruguay. When he finally came into the game, the team had a 2 goal deficit which ended up being the final score (0-2). It was a great experience nonetheless with memories that we will all cherish forever.
National
On June 12th, in the fifth game of the NBA finals, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat. The Western Conference Champions won their first ever NBA championship. As most would expect, Serbian center Nikola Jokic was named MVP of the finals.
Global
Football
On June 10th, Manchester City won its first Champions League final by defeating Inter Milan by a score of 1-0 with a second half goal by Rodri. With this victory in Istanbul, Turkey, the club started a dominant 2023 performance by amassing five trophies in 2023 (Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup). See December section for further details.
Tennis
On June 11th, the Serbian tennis legend, Novak Djokovik, in a closely contested match, won an all-time record 23rd Grand Slam single’s title by defeating Norway’s Casper Ruud in straight sets (7-6, 6-3, 7-5). Casper had reached the French Open final for the second consecutive year unfortunately losing both.
July
Personal
Jogo was invited to take part in the La Liga summer tour in México and the United States with Real Sociedad’s first team to play two friendlies against La Liga clubs. In August 2nd, Real Sociedad faced Atletico de Madrid at BVBA stadium where Jogo got to see his aunt and uncle who relentlessly show him their unwavering support. Three days days later, the second friendly was played against Real Betis in San Francisco.
Fun Fact: A few weeks earlier, Johan had faced Real Betis in Braunschweig, Germany in a friendly and would score against them the goal below. Football has a way to make “things happen”. Johan had a chance to meet Andrés Guardado just like Jogo did a few years earlier.
National
Gold Cup
On July 6th, México and Panama faced off in this year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup final in SoFi stadium in Inglewood, California. In a highly competitive match, México prevailed 1-0 with an 88th minute goal by Santiago Giménez. At last, México retook the throne from the United States who were the winners of the previous Gold Cup in 2021.
Global
Football
After months of speculation about his next career move. On July 16th, Lionel Messi’s announcement to join MLS Inter Miami’s was made official. The hype of this move was of unprecedented proportions globally even before the announcement was made official. I wrote a piece about his effect on MLS two months after his arrival here.
Tennis
On July 16th, 2003 Spanish born Carlitos Alcaraz defeated the four-time defending champion Serbian Novak Djokovic in a closely contested final, 1–6, 7–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–4 to win the gentlemen’s singles tennis title. It was the Spaniard’s first Wimbledon title and second major singles title overall denying the champion from winning a 24th grand slam title for now…
August
Personal
On August 10th, Jogo received the excellent news that his request for a loan had been approved to 2nd division CD Mirandés. Four days later, he made his debut in a victory over Alcorcón 4-0. Just like in the U20 WC, he showed his versatility by playing his first game as a right winger.
National
On August 19th, the newly created Leagues Cup including all MLS and Liga MX clubs reached its championship game between two MLS teams. In a tightly contested game, Messi’s Inter Miami CF would prevail in penalty kicks (PKs) by a score of 10-9 over Nashville SC. The regulation score ended up 1-1 which forced PKs. It became the first trophy for Messi’s Inter Miami CF for what many expect to be many more to come. Lionel Messi was awarded the top scorer and the MVP of the tournament.
Global
On August 21st, the FIFA women’s world reached its climax. In a very competitive match dominated by England in the first half and Spain in the second half, the Spaniards saw their visually appealing footballing be crowned once again. Their tiki-taka, prevailed over a very physical English team by a score of 1-0. With this title, the Spaniards are the current U-17, U20, and Senior WC champions. Quite a feat that will be difficult to emulate.
Unfortunately, most of the attention would be drawn to this Spanish team during their post-match controversial celebration and all the events that gradually led to the resignation of the president of the Spanish Football Federation.
September
Personal
Mom went to visit Jogo to Miranda de Ebro. He needed some assistance moving and was adjusting quite well to the new club but the field opportunities had not been abundant due to his lack of pre-season work. Expert twitter fans back home were writing off his entire career but he soon proved us all wrong. He continues to work hard after an almost perfect month of October.
National
On September 10th, American youngster Coco Gauff was crowned queen of the US Open winning her first single’s major by defeating Aryna Sabalenka after having lost the first set 2-6. In the process, she earned $3 million.
The next day, Novak Djokovic won his record breaking 24th gentleman’s grand slam title in straight sets (6-3, 7-5, and 6-3) over Russian Daniil Medvedev.
Global
On September 24, Tigst Assefa won the 49th edition of the BMW Berlin women’s marathon and in the process, established a new world record at: 2:11:53. She beat the previous world record by over 2 minutes and 14 seconds.
On the male side, Eliud Kipchoge won the male open division for the fifth time. The video below was taken when Eliu won the 2018 marathon for the first time on September 16, 2018.
October
October was an excellent month for the family. Jogo had an almost perfect month playing full 90 minute games with CD Mirandés and contributing with some assists/hockey assists. On Johan’s side, he once again received the honor of representing the United States with the U23 USMNT pre-Olympic team.
Personal
Johan is called up to his first US U23 camp in Phoenix Arizona. He played against México and Japan scoring this goal but more importantly, he was able to see old (Chumchat) co-hosts and guests. It was a very memorable trip. We caught up with him there as well.
National
On October 1st, the Texas Rangers managed to lose to the Seattle Mariners in the last game of the regular season, relinquishing first place in the west division (and a playoff bye) to state archrivals: the Houston Astros. As faith would have it, the Astros had won a battle but not the war.
In what some would consider an anomaly among anomalies, the next four weeks would see the Texas Rangers win every single road game of the playoffs. In the process, they not only eliminated the Houston Astros in the American League (AL) Championship Series but on November 1st, defeated the the Diamond Backs winning their first MLB World Series (4-1). After reaching and losing the World Series in consecutive years ( 2010 and 2011), the Texas Rangers at last, won their first ever World Series in Arizona.
Global
On October 28th, the world received the terrible and unexpected news that Matthew Perry, who was best know for playing Chandler Bing on the smash hit comedy “Friends” had died at the age of 54 years.
November
November was a good football month for Johan…despite the fact that he had a very dangerous head injury during a late November football match that required several stitches…
Personal
On November 11th, Johan scored his first official goal in Bundesliga 2. With it, his team won an important game in their relegation battle. We hope Johan and club keep up the good form in 2024.
National
During the November FIFA window, Johan attended his second U23 camp in Spain in preparation for the Paris Olympics in the summer of 2024. As a family, we had hoped that the boys could play together with the national team but CD Mirandés denied Jogo’s release.
On Sunday, November 19th, Johan and teammates managed to go see Jogo play against CD Eldense in a stadium near where U23 USMNT camp was being held. It was a very dramatic game that ended up in a tie (2-2) but the most important part of that evening was that the boys got to see each other.
We are hoping that Jogo continues in an upward trajectory in La Liga 2. That way, the U23 USMNT invitations will continue to be earned and hopefully extended. We’ll keep our fingers crossed that CD Mirandés release Jogo next time and who knows? Maybe, the boys will play together at some point.
Global
On November 28th, Henry Kissinger a German-born American diplomat who shaped U.S. foreign policy in the second half of the 20th century and won a Nobel Prize for brokering an end to the Vietnam War died at age 100. He served as the US secretary of state and national security advisor in the presidential administrations of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford between 1969 and 1977.
December
Personal
Johan scored his second official goal in Bundesliga 2. With it, his Eintracht Braunschweig club finished the first half of the season with two important consecutive victories and continued in a fierce relegation battle. The break should help them recover some injured/suspended players, regroup, and return to action in January hungrier than before.
In an extra long MLS season that started back in February (due to the month- long Leagues Cup tournament), on December 9th, the Columbus Crew defeated LAFC at home by a score of 2-1.
Global
On Friday, December 22nd, Manchester City, won the 2023 FIFA Club world Cup defeating Marcelo’s Brazilian Fluminese squad by a score of 4-0. In its last version showcasing seven clubs (winner of each confederation plus the winner of the host country local league), a UEFA club was crowned for the 16th time out of 20 editions so far. The remaining 4 wins of this tournament have been earned by Brazilian clubs.
Personally, the most impressive feat of this event was that Argentinean National Team Member, Julián Álvarez, at a tender age of 23 years, has won every possible important trophy there’s to be won. This includes the FIFA Men’s World Cup won in December 2022.
Next year, we will expand our blog coverage to include more content about Joana. She’s beginning to take the sport to a different level. In fact, in a couple of weeks, she will participate in her first showcase tournament of the year. She is coming off a semi-severe injury that sidelined her for two months but is now fully recovered. We have been working diligently in preparation for the continuation of her seasons.
As for the boys, they will continue to learn about European football professionalism. They have a great foundation and continue to earn valuable minutes. However, just like Joana, their preventive care habits should be maintained to help them be more resilient to the demands of their respective leagues. We hope they continue to not only accumulate impactful minutes and perform well in order to partake in the camps leading up to summer Olympics.
Otherwise, they will be welcomed back home where they will inevitably continue to play the beautiful game but in a different capacity. See, this year, they started the “Jogos and friends pickup games” anytime they are in town where they not only get to play the beautiful game with professional/college footballers in a friendly manner but also reminisce about childhood memories or catch up with football friends. They have had three great instances.
On a more personal note, next year I will prioritize family time and own health. Unlike 2023, traveling will take a secondary role. As time allows, officiating football matches at a higher level and participating in longer distance running competitions will also be part of my goals. At this point, our only hope is that 2024 can keep up with our plans…thanks for making it this far and hope you have enjoyed it. Until next time. Happy New Year!!! #theGomezway
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Now that Messi has gained a lot of popularity in the US, it seems fitting to talk about his home country. As a first-time traveler to Argentina, there are many things that I would highlight from my recent trip to the latest Men’s U20 World Cup host nation -which was the main purpose of my trip. From the vibrant people and places to the rich cultural and historical aspects, this country has so much to offer.
A direct American Airlines (AA) flight departs daily at 11 PM from the Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) airport. It makes the trip very short if one sleeps through it especially because Argentina is only two time zones ahead of our central standard time.
The duration of a direct flight from DFW to EZE in Buenos Aires is 10 hours and 10 minutes
An all-male flight crew at American is not nearly as efficient and cordial as an all-female crew
Money
Under no circumstances should dollars be exchanged for Argentinean pesos at a US airport (ex. 1 US dollar is equivalent to 280 pesos).
1 US dollar is equivalent to 480 pesos if exchanged in Argentina the same day.
Be careful when exchanging dollars in any city at the famous “Cuevas“. Do it at your own risk. That said, cuevas will provide you the best exchange rate.
Spend all the pesos in Argentina as nobody will buy them back in the US. It’s an extremely devaluated and volatile currency.
Food
Argentines love their meat. Parillas, or steakhouses, are all over the country, and if you’re lucky enough to make friends with some locals, you will almost certainly be invited to an asado. It can be challenging being a vegetarian as the meat served is some of the most delicious in the world. Argentina is major exporter of meat to Europe and Asia. Red wine goes perfectly with meat and the country’s prime wine producing region is Mendoza which we had the pleasure of visiting.
City of Mendoza – Wine producing capital of the world
Argentines
Patriotism is engrained deeply. You will see an Argentinean flag in every corner. Disclaimer: I visited the country after the national team had won the Men’s World Cup where nationalism is at a new high.
The people of San Juan are top notch: welcoming, submissive, religious, and cordial. Overall, I was very impressed with their hospitality.
The people of Buenos Aires, like any big metropolitan area, live a rushed lifestyle. They are not as welcoming, or cordial as the people from other provinces. Survival of the fittest at its best is the motto.
Soccer (Football) is a religion. You will see many murals of Maradona, not so much Messi.
These signs (along with flags) are everywhere. It was very hard for Argentina to accept British defeat.
Transportation
Argentina is huge; have a plan that meets your available time. The plan should help you determine if a rental car is necessary. If so, renting a car in Argentina is very easy; one can do it at the Buenos Aires airport. If you don’t plan to visit anything outside of Buenos Aires, renting a car is not advisable as public transportation in abundant.
The same rental companies you find in the US can be found in Argentina
Drivers can use their driver license from their home country
Driving in Buenos Aires is like driving in any big urban city except that rules are just suggestions
All vehicles are required to have their headlights on; violators are subject to a fine.
Pick up trucks are abundant in Argentina. The pickup truck to car ratio is likely higher in San Juan than it is in Fort Worth, Texas. I was very surprised by that. Other than Mexico, I had never witnessed such phenomenon.
A lot of vehicles (mostly older trucks and buses) have a sticker in the back window that conveys the maximum speed (in Km/hr) allowed for the vehicle. See below.
If flying is the least expensive option to get around, know that a lot of airports outside of Buenos Aires are antiquated with one flight per day and in some cases one flight to your destination only happens every couple of days.
Gas was about 250 pesos/liter when I visited
Roads
Most Interstates (Ruta Nacional – RN) roads are in horrendous shape. Be sure your rental car has a spare tire.
There are toll roads everywhere. Tolls are not expensive but add up quickly. They vary from $100 pesos to $700 pesos (closer to Buenos Aires). Have change readily available.
Most roads are not ‘autopistas’=multiple lane roads; instead, they are single lane roads called carreteras.
Bump speeds are not as common; instead, they have something called “baden“
Football/Soccer
Football is literally a religion in Argentina. Everyone you talk to is a fan (expert) so be ready to be pontificated on the sport.
Messi is not as idolized as Maradona; there are plenty of Maradona murals all over the country
The majority of the first division teams are scattered around the Buenos Aires province. Limited first division football is played outside of a few provinces.
Argentina U20 vs New Zealand U20 game in San Juan, Argentina
Economy
The timing of this post happens to coincide with the increased attention Argentina is receiving these days; Messi’s decision to play in MLS (and his Leagues Cup title last night) has sparked additional interest from people all over the world to visit the South American country. For those who embark on a trip to Argentina, beware that the economy is very volatile, there’s a significant economic disparity especially in the provinces outside of Buenos Aires. Poverty oftentimes leads to crime which sometimes turns into “legal” robbery.
As an example, “trapitos” who are informal workers charging drivers money to “watch” cars in public spaces, can be encountered on free parking streets. When drivers refuse to pay for their service, they might return to their vehicle to find it keyed or damaged in some other way. Trapitos are mostly illegal unless they have an identification card on their chest. Should you find yourself approached by one and unable to leave, the best course of action is to give them a small sum of money. Many times, it can be negotiated down, around the peso equivalent of $0.75
Argentina's share of population living under the national poverty line.
The silver lining is that for a US traveler, the US dollar goes a long way; however, one must be extra careful navigating the streets of Buenos Aires. The locals constantly warn tourists of the potential risks. If you do decide to visit this beautiful country, consider visiting other South American countries such as Chile or Brazil. Also remember that while we may be enjoying a nice hot summer in the states, their winters could be harsh. Hope you found this article useful. Until next time. Be sure to follow us on Instagram. #theGomezway
Here is a quick recap of the game against Ecuador including my “commute” to San Juan, Argentina along with the usual pre and post-match behind the scenes stuff. Hopefully, some info and pics below are useful for future USYNT generations. Otherwise, if you are the casual reader, try to enjoy the content.
Trip
Dallas to Buenos Aires
My flight left Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International airport at 9:20 PM on Thursday, May 18 (Match Day – 2). For an international trip, I normally like to leave at least three days before match day but it was impossible this time. It was a 10 hour direct flight to Buenos Aires; I arrived around 11:20 AM local time (2 hours ahead of Dallas). As we landed, my T-Mobile device took forever to receive a signal and I was beginning to panic. We rely so much on those mobiles and the trip to San Juan was going to be a long one without a working phone. As I made my way to customs, my phone service was restored. At last, panic mode was turned OFF.
Argentina is plagued with street murals like this one
Buenos Aires to San Luis
I quickly proceeded to the rental car counter (where I also exchanged currency -1 US dollar is approximately 460 pesos). By 12:30 PM, I was out of the airport driving to the province of San Juan. Due to the length of the trip (1118 Kms -~800 miles), it consisted of two parts. When I left, I honestly didn’t know how long the first leg was going to be…always love the adventure especially when I’m traveling by myself.
San Juan is about 14 hours away from Buenos Aires since 90% of the trip consists of one lane roads with very low speed limits (100 – 120 Km/hr). The first leg was a very dull drive of about 10 hours from Buenos Aires to San Luis (a different province/state) crossing 3 provinces (Buenos Aires, Cordoba, and San Luis) in the process. It rained (sometimes poured) for at least 8 out of the 10.5 trip hours. Leg two of the trip crossed two additional provinces (Mendoza and San Juan). FYI Argentina has 23 provinces/states.
Argentina’s 23 provinces/states
San Luis to San Juan
I spent the night in San Luis and the next morning, I left to San Juan around 6:15 AM for the last 3.5 hours of my trek. It was a bit of a treacherous drive as the first two hours were up in the cooler and foggy mountains, early in the morning (no coffee) and more one lane roads.
Game
As in any tournament, the most important game is the first one. The team knew it and they were mentally prepared for it. Ecuador is a solid team with excellent individual talent and speed at every position; however, they sometimes lack cohesion and discipline in the last third. To be fair, the roster they took to the South American qualifiers was a tad different than this group for the world cup. It was imperative that we won possession in the midlfield.
Pre-game
I arrived at San Juan’s AirBnb around 10:30 AM, took a quick shower and went straight to see Jogo at their hotel. It was 12:15 PM (game was at 3 PM) when I was picking up my ticket to the game from the front lobby and I used the opportunity to wish him well and possibly calm any nerves.
It was reassuring that he was perfectly mellow about his potential WC debut. He had known that he could be playing in a different role for a few days, practiced accordingly and was tactically ready.
Obligatory pre-match pic
As I was leaving the hotel, I said farewell to a few of the players as they were making their way to the bus. It was very moving (and emotional for me) to see how the non-coaching staff one by one lined up from the hotel exit all the way to the bus entrance, to high-five and wish each team member a heart-felt, encouraging farewell. The majority of the non-coaching staff rides separately from the players and coaching staff. This was another sign of the family environment that Mikey has created with this team in his short term as the coach. As I made my way to the car, I was hesitant to return to the AirBnb to rest a bit fearing that I’d fall asleep through the game since I was so tired so I made my way to the stadium instead.
Staff wishing players and coaching staff the best of lucks outside the hotel
I arrived at the stadium where I sat in the US section. Our section was pretty much empty except for one additional player family, the rest of the non-coaching staff, and two players who could not participate in the first match. Given the excitement, I really didn’t take any pre-match pictures until after the match.
Most of the crowd arrived after the ceremonies
1st half
The beauty of this game is that we all can have a different view point and that’s okay; thus much analysis is not needed as most of you witnessed what transpired. I’ll venture to say that we dominated the first 20 minutes or so and then Ecuador settled in and finished the half stronger than we did. Jogo had a good challenge with Nilson Angulo (#10) and I am glad they faced each other for their own development needs. It won’t be the last time they face each other. Did you all catch #19? He’s a 2007 born!!!
2nd half
Ecuador played a better second half with the crowd behind them all the time; fortunately, they never presented a real threat to our GK. The temperature was not extremely high; however, the sunlight hits differently here in San Juan. Our boys seemed a bit tired and the Ecuadorian players, accustomed to that climate, had the momentum especially in the last quarter of the game. Our subs came in, adjusted well, provided a much needed energy spark and they certainly made a difference. At last, we had won the first game of the 2023 U20 WC.
Post-game
I only saw Jogo for a brief moment after the game. Ironically, when he tried to approach me near the sturdy fence separating fans from players, the same fans who were strongly rooting against the US throughout the game were the same ones trying to fetch a jersey, selfie or even an autograph from the US players. In the end, I was glad we did manage to snap this selfie below.
I stayed after our game to watch the double-header game between group rivals Fiji and Slovakia. It was good to scout the level of the competition our team will be facing today. On Friday, the second header game after our match with Slovakia will be sold out as Argentina will be playing against New Zealand. It should be a good one to watch.
It was a hostile environment where 95% of the 14k in attendance were naturally rooting for Ecuador. Our boys were mentally prepared and had an importantly good first showing; they know that the task at hand will should become more and more challenging.
As they continue their journey in this tournament, please remember that no matter what happens in the next games, these boys are giving their best for themselves, their teammates, their families, their communities, their clubs, you fans, and last but not least, their country. At the end of the day, this is a game, the beautiful game. Let’s keep it that way. The outcome of a football match (tournament) does not define us as individuals and much less as a country, nor should it define their careers. After each world cup game, Jogo will still be buddies with players from Ecuador, France, Slovakia, or whoever they play in the competition. As fans, we need to understand that there will be good games and not so good ones, that’s football and we can’t do anything to change that dynamic. However, how we react to their performance is within our control. Let’s not become the type of fans who use the outcome of a match as a justification for questionable behavior (ex. Valencia vs Real Madrid, El Salvador) physically or online. We owe it to the betterment of the game in this country to act responsibly.
That said, thank you for the tremendous outpouring of love and support received in the past couple of days. It will never be forgotten but we must keep a leveled head there as well. It was a great first win but there are far greater challenges lying ahead. Only few will probably know that, unfortunately, in this ephemeral, competitive profession, the good days are hard to come for a footballer. As I share that with you, please be sure to reach out to all US players (especially those abroad away from their families), when things may not be going well during their seasons. I’m sure they will appreciate hearing your unwavering support during challenging times as well. In the process, you will be contributing not only to their mental well-being but also to the betterment of the sport in this country. Every bit makes a difference in the life of a footballer. As you know, the summer will have a few important competitions for the USMNT; start reaching out to some of those players now if you can with words of encouragement.
As I wrap this post up, I’m heading to the second game against Fiji. They will feel your support from afar and the other two families and myself will do our best to permeate the good vibes onto the field. As always, thanks for reading. Let’s go boys!!! #theGomezway
PS Before I head into the stadium, I will stop by the Red Bull Skateboarding Tour Event taking place in San Juan, Argentina. This event is a qualifier for next year’s Olympics in Paris. Football does take you to unexpected places and events sometimes. I am so grateful to the sport…
Well, 2022 is now history so it’s time to recap the last 365 days…2022 started with the Omicron variant spreading rapidly worldwide; fortunately, a higher global vaccination rate helped combat its widespread. As a result, the death toll decreased dramatically from its predecessor the Delta variant. Optimism was rampant but measured.
Just like 2021; last year was a very tumultuous year from various view points: political, economic, socio-cultural, and technological to name a few; there is always the silver lining and we are grateful for the many lessons learned. Our family was blessed in many ways but not without overcoming some anomalies. Celebrating success is a must. Reminiscing about last year’s events is a reminder to seize the day (carpe diem).
January
Personal
Claudia and Joana accompanied Jogo a few days to San Sebastian, Spain for his permanent move. His football registration with La Liga was delayed significantly but al last, he was allowed to play. He made his debut with Sanse in a friendly a few days later.
National
On January 15th, a few miles from where we live, a 44 year-old British gunman Malik Faisal Akram, took 4 people hostage in a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. Rabii Charlie Cytron-Walker, a regular teacher at Fort Worth Christian School (where Joana goes to school), was one of the four hostages. The Rabii threw a chair at the gunman and the other two hostages escaped. At the end of the ordeal, all the hostages ended up safe and the gunman dead.
SWAT team members deploy near the Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue in Colleyville, Texas
Global
On January 6th, Novak Djokovik was denied entry to Australia by the government after having acquired a vaccination exemption. The denial was supposed to cause him his participation in the Australian Open. In a turn of events, on January 10th, a judge reversed the order allowing him to enter Australia and participate; however, in a logical application of Australian vaccination laws, Djokovik ultimately not only was prevented from participating in the Australian Open but also deported from Australia.
On January 30th, against all odds (see my post from 2021), Rafa Nadal became the first man to win 21 Grand Slam titles by overcoming a two set deficit against Russian Medvedev in an epic 2022 Australian Open final.
February
Personal
On February 14th, Jogo decided to give us the best Valentine’s present ever…his debut in Europe in La Liga 2 against Ponferradina. In a hard-fought game that was lost in the last second, Jogo draws the PK that leveled the score 1-1. Boy did I love that maroon uniform. We now have a few of those jerseys if you are interested, reach out.
National
Normally under the global category but given February’s global events, this will remain in the National category. On February 13th, the LA Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals by a score of 23-20 in Super bowl LVI (56th). Tampa Bay native and Highland Park HS attendee Matthew Stafford, won his first super bowl with the help of 42 year old, Andrew Whitworth. This is the second time that a super bowl (2021 was the first one) team plays in their home stadium.
To me, the best part of the game was the halftime show featuring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent, and Eminem. If not the best, it’s top 3 performance in all the years I have been watching the game.
Dr. Dre at the Super Bowl XLV
Global
On February 24th, Russia launches an invasion on Ukraine. and everything else that followed had a tremendous global social, political and economic impact. More importantly, it is very hard to put into words the number of lives that were lost. As of the writing of this post, the war continues…
March
Personal
Spain Trip
Two notable events took place in March. First, while I was visiting Jogo, he started training with the first team and even made the trip to Mallorca where he met up with fellow American Matthew Hoppe. Although he didn’t get to play, his inclusion to the first team was noteworthy. To his dismay, he was assigned #39 (not #42).
Germany trip
Mom made it out to Germany (by herself) to visit Johan for the first time. She spent about a month with the oldest sibling while Joana and myself managed to survive back home. All good. During that time, she found time to visit Jogo in Spain as well.
National
On March 10th, the MLB stopped its strike no longer jeopardizing the 2022 season. All the games were played; however, the start of the season was delayed by one week. The Houston Astros would go on to win the world series once again.
Global
On March 5th, in an embarrassing display of the most violent emotions that football can elicit, Mexican fans drew attention to the Liga Mx game between Queretaro and Atlas. In the 62nd minute of the game, the referee decided to stop the game due to a continuous engagement between fans of both clubs. The violent exchange would go on for hours in what some would define as the worst day of Mexican football history. Beware, the below video shows very graphic actions that took place on the pitch. Outside of the pitch violence escalated to unprecedented levels.
On April 4th, the NCAA March Madness tournament came to an end. Like in 2021, a big XII team came on top. The top ranked Kansas Jayhawks rallied from a 15-point deficit to defeat the 8th-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels 72–69 in the national championship game. This was the 4th championship for the Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team.
2022 NCAA March Madness championship game
Global
On April 30th, in a home game Real Madrid won a record 35th La Liga title, following a 4–0 victory over Espanyol. Coach Carlo Ancelotti became the first coach to win titles in all of Europe’s top five leagues. Real Madrid would go on to also win its 14th Champions League in the same season.
Real Madrid wins a league record 35th title
May
May was an emotional roller coaster for our family. There were some great events that took place and other lessons that we learned the hard way…
Personal
Sanse
On one hand, Sanse was relegated to the 3rd division and unfortunately Jogo was unable to help the team since he was nursing an injury for several weeks. Bragging aside, his team had a very solid numbers every time he started and/or played. That definitely didn’t go unnoticed by the staff.
Zwickau
On the bright side of things, Johan came home after his first successful season in Germany. Being the second youngest on the team, he finished the season as the team’s second leading goal scorer despite playing out of position half of the time. In his last game of the season, he assisted twice to finish the season strongly.
Johan Gomez: Soccer 3.Liga: Saarbrucken (1) vs FSV Zwickau (1) 05.07.22 (Saarbrucken, Germany)
Johan Gomez: Soccer 3.Liga: FSV Zwickau (7) vs Wurzburger (0) 05.14.22 (Zwickau, Germany)
PhD
On a more academic note, after many years of sacrifices, my sister received her PhD in Spanish Linguistics from the University of Houston. Claudia and myself accompanied her in this special day. We could not be any prouder and happier for her academic achievement.
National/Global
Continuing with a unfortunate tradition of school gun violence, on May 24, in Uvalde Texas (a small town west of San Antonio, Texas), teenager Salvador Ramos opened fire killing nineteen elementary students and two teachers. The former student of Robb Elementary also wounded seventeen others making the mass shooting the deadliest in Texas history.
June
Academic accolades are always celebrated in our family especially in Jogo’s situation. After receiving a Christian education for over 10 years, we came to terms with having him finish his last three years of high school online when he moved to Louisville. It was a blessing in disguise as the pandemic hit shortly after forcing everyone to adapt to the virtual classroom which Jogo had already started three months prior. He finished his HS years while living in Spain making it challenging to attend live sessions while seven hours ahead. He somehow made it work.
Personal
In June, Jogo finished his high school years with honors and due to this event and the injury he sustained in Spain in May, he could not attend the CONCACAF U20 Qualifying that took place in Honduras. The US team ultimately won the championship game defeating Costa Rica by a score of 3-1. Meanwhile, in a surprising turn of events at this level, Mexico was unable to advance to the semifinals missing out on the 2023 U20 WC and the 2024 Olympics.
National
On June 16th, in the sixth game of the NBA finals, the Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics. The Western Conference Champions won their fourth championship (7th overall) in the last eight years. As most would expect, Steph Curry was named MVP of the finals. He was, once again, unstoppable.
Global
2021 had marked what some of us had considered the end of Rafael Nadal era in major tennis tournaments. He had lost at the 2021 French Open for the first time. Then, in January 2021 (see above), he won the Australian open becoming the winningest Gran Slam male tennis player ever (21 major titles).
Then on June 5th, at 36 years of age, Nadal with his chronic aching body, yet again, managed to win the French Open for a record 14th time. In a dominant performance in three sets (6-3, 6-3, and 6-0), he defeated Norway’s Casper Ruud to solidify his “King of Clay” status. In doing so, he reached his 22nd major titles separating himself from Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic who were currently at 20 major titles.
July
Personal
Jogo played several pre-season games with Real Sociedad first team. On July 16 he played at Real Arena against Toulousse (where he played against former USL colleague: ), a week later on July 23rd (as a birthday 21st gift to his brother), he played in Germany against Joe Scally’s Mönchengladbach and had a direct impact on the only Txuri Urdi goal of the game.
National
Can’t remember what happened here of national relevance…
Global
On July 10th, 35 year old Serbian Novak Djokovic won his 7th Wimbledon title and 21st grand slam overall. He continues to be one short of 36 year old Rafael Nadal’s overall grand slam record. 2023 should likely see the end of one of their careers unfortunately.
August
Personal
Real Sociedad
Jogo continued part-taking in playing pre-season games with RS first team. On August 5th, they played against Athletic Bilbao and he was fortunate enough to mark Iñaki Williams (Ghana’s National Team forward) and Qatar WC participant.
Jogo defending Spain National Team Member Iñaki Williams
Joana
Joana, our daughter started her freshman year of high school…and with that other events are currently taking place (ex. driving permit, etc.). Embrace yourselves folks. On the bright side, we are now closer to retirement 🙂
National
For the life of me, I cannot think of a event of national relevance. I’m aging…
Global
England’s Women’s Football team (aka Lionesses) won the Euro’s in a convincing fashion by defeating Spain (2-1), Sweden (4-0), and Germany (2-1) in the quarters, semis, and finals respectively. They had the support of the home fans and set the bar high for the men’s team.
Also on August 10, Champions League champion Real Madrid defeated Eintracht Frankfurt by a score of 2-0 to win the UEFA Super Cup adding another title to their trophy case.
September
Personal
Jogo is added to Real Sociedad’s A roster for the upcoming UEFA Europe league competition. He was part of several rosters but did not see any playing time…baby steps and we need to continue improving.
More importantly, in September 1st (Jogo’s birthday), Jogo’s twin cousin was born. Lucca Maldonado was born and yet as of the writing of this post, Jogo has not met him yet…
National
September was a memorable month for the world of tennis. On September 2nd, Serena Williams played her last official career match at the US Open. She lost to Ajla Tomljanović in 3 sets. Tomljanović after the match said, “I’m feeling really sorry, just because I love Serena just as much as you guys do”
Global
Tennis
Three days later and despite having a great start in the US Open, Rafa Nadal was ousted, on September 5th, in the 4th round by American Frances Tiafoe in 4 sets . His 23rd major title will have to wait.
10 days later, on September 15th, Roger Federer unexpectedly announced his retirement after having dropped out of the top 50 ranking for the first time in his career.
Notable deaths
On September 8th, Queen Elizabeth II dies at 96 years old. She was fortunate enough to have live through all World Cups (at the writing of this); however, she will have missed the Qatar WC when this post is finally published.
October
Personal
Jogo traveled with Real Sociedad to a few league games (October 19th -Mallorca, October 22nd -Valladolid) and UEFA games (October 27th -Omonia) but his debut was put on hold. The carrot continues to be flashed off and on…and our work needs to continue.
National/Global
On October 2nd, Sergio Pérez won the Singapore Grand Prix. He was starting to position himself second (just behind his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen) in the 2022 Drivers Standings. In the following race, in Japan, Max ended up winning the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship and in the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, the Red Bull team won it. Pérez finished the season with 305 points, with 2 wins, 1 pole position, 11 podiums and 3 fastest laps, his best season in Formula 1 yet.
Global
On October 21, French footballer Karim Benzema received 89 out of 93 possible votes and finally won the Ballon d’Or for the first time in his career. He played an instrumental role in helping Real Madrid win the 2021-2022 La Liga, the 2021-2022 UEFA Champions League and the 2020-2021 UEFA Nations League with France.
November
Personal
On November 6th, Johan scored his third brace since he joined FSV Zwickau. The first goal came via a PK and the second goal is below. FSV Zwickau went on to defeat Joe Enoch’s former club Osnabruck at home by a score of 4-3.
National
On November 5th, the Houston Astros won the MLB World Series over the Philadelphia Phillies in a best of seven series. The American League Champions (Astros) defeated the National League Phillies in six games. The 118th series was notable for having the first World Series no-hitter since the 1956 World Series perfect game. Astro’s pitchers Cristian Javier, Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero, and Ryan Pressly achieved a combined no-hitter in game-4. It was only the third no-hitter in MLB history. Personally, we were happy to see hall of famer, ex-Dodger outfielder Dusty Baker win his first World Series at 73 years of age.
On the same day, LAFC won the MLS Cup over the Philadelphia Union in an unforgettable and very dramatic come from behind game for LAFC. The championship game lived up to the hype and went to kicks from the spot thanks to a last minute 2nd overtime goal by Wales star Gareth Bale. LAFC would prevail in PKs before their home crowd. November 5th will go down in history as one of the worse days in Philadelphia’s sports history.
Global
On November 20, the FIFA Qatar World Cup was inaugurated. In its 22nd edition and played for the first time in the November-December timeframe, the host nation played Ecuador to a 0-2 scoreline. Qatar, became the first nation to lose their inaugural match. In fact, they lost all three matches to Ecuador, Senegal, and Netherlands.
December
From a football perspective, December was a very exciting month for fans; most of the knockout WC games with record-breaking goals scored, took place in the first two weeks. Similarly, many other records were established in this WC. For example, the Qatar WC marked the first time an all-women referee crew officiated a WC game. There were many other records broken which made the games very memorable.
Personal
Both boys came home to spend Christmas with us for the second consecutive year. Even though, it was a short-lived visit, it was a blessing to have them with us. They headed back to their respective clubs for New Years and we hope they have very healthy and successful 2023 years respectively.
…oh and btw, Johan scored this beauty in a friendly.
National
On December 3rd, Netherlands eliminated the USMNT from the Qatar World Cup by a score of 3-1. Some US fans thought Louis Van Gaal gave Gregg a tactical masterclass and the game got out of hand early. Despite the loss, the USMNT was the best CONCACAF team in the tournament and left a good impression that accompanied with a lot of work, could turn into something special when the 2026 WC is hosted in Canada, Mexico, and the US.
Mexico continued its football decadence at the different national team levels: U20, U23, WNT, MNT, etc. The silver lining will be that Mexico beat the only team who defeated Argentina and only lost to the eventual World Cup Champion.
Global
World Cup
On December 17th, in one of the most dramatic FIFA WC finals, Argentina prevailed over France in a PK shoot-out and won its third (1978, 1986, and 2022) WC title. Messi, likely playing his last WC, was finally able to not only capture the MVP accolade but also the only trophy that had eluded him in his career.
Notable deaths
Unfortunately, December, like last year’s when ex-NFL Hall of Fame coach John Madden passed away, once again brought us some notable deaths at the global stage:
Pele – December 29th
Pope Benedict XVI – December 31st
2023
Personal
This year will be a year where I will personally focus a lot on my well-being. Tough decisions will be made but an overall focus shift will be made. On the children’s side, I am looking forward to how their football journeys continue to develop. We, as parents, are more interested in seeing how they continue to develop as good members of society and the legacy they leave behind.
2023 promises to be a year of new faces emerging as Nadal and Djokovic relinquish their long-time dominance of the sport. I am particularly interested in seeing whether Novak Djokovic can win a record-tying 22nd grand slam.
If you made it this far, congrats. Be sure to follow us in Instagram and Twitter where we are more active.
Last year, we all begged for 2020 to end as we were ready to move on… now, here we are. Some would say we are better off while others may vehemently disagree. Personally, as the Gómez reflect upon what 2021 brought us, we must inevitably acknowledge some of the challenges at the global, and national levels of the past twelve months. Just like 2020 was a very tumultuous year from various view points: political, economic, socio-cultural, and technological to name a few, there is always the silver lining and we are grateful for the many lessons learned.
Our family was blessed in many ways but not without overcoming challenges. Reminiscing about this year’s events is a reminder to live each day at its fullest with no regrets. Thus, with a few days remaining in 2021, let’s recap some of the most notable events for our family and parallelly (especially sports) events around the nation and the world in chronological order. In the sporting side of things, 2021 could definitely be labeled as the year of the “sports resurgences” or better yet, “title droughts end“
January
Personal
After having spent the Christmas and New Year holidays with Johan in Portugal, Jogo finally returned home from successful Portuguese trials. We were very thankful for the invitations to train with different clubs during difficult times. Although opportunities with those clubs ultimately did not materialize, sometimes the journey starts with filtering out potential opportunities.
National/Global
On January 6th, in an unfortunate turn of events, the US Capitol was invaded and attacked by a group of alleged President Trump’s supporters. Their objective was to overturn President Trump’s electoral defeat by disrupting a Congress session.
The Capitol was locked down and lawmakers evacuated while the rioters vandalized it. In the end, five people died with more than 140 people injured during the storming.
February
Personal
On February 1st, Jogo officially started his first LouCity pre-season. Frigid weather was awaiting the start of the first practice but that wasn’t going to be an impediment. In a fun, unplanned team-bonding activity, teammates, and members of the technical staff shoveled snow to make way for the first practice of the season. When one has clear objectives, a little cooler weather won’t stop the will to succeed…and on he went to his first practice of the season driving for the first time in treacherous conditions.
Jogo’s transportation to practice. 02.01.21 (Louisville, KY)
National
Winter storm Uri brought unprecedented weather which impacted the entire state of Texas (and some surrounding states) leaving millions of households without electricity or water. For us, the silver lining was that Joana and I were stranded at home for several days and we made a ton of memories surviving with basic stuff. We will cherish those moments forever. People all over the state came together to help in the most unexpected ways.
Sometimes adversity brings out the best in people
National/Global
On February 7th, then-43 year old Tom Brady led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a franchise second Super Bowl LV (55th) victory. History was written as the Bucs became the first team to win a Super Bowl in their home stadium.
In the process, Brady earned his 7th Super Bowl ring over heavily favorites reigning champs Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 31-9. He is the epitome of consistency.
March
Personal
FC Porto makes the difficult decision to rescind Portuguese legend Rui Barros‘ contract as the Porto B coach. The sacking unfortunately coincided with Johan’s nursing a slight knock. As the team quickly gets into a fierce Segunda Liga relegation fight (Welcome to Europe Johan), Johan sees his playing time gradually reduced. In an attempt to help Porto B survive the relegation battle, the new coach (Antonio Fòlha) started adding first team players to Porto B’s game day rosters which proved inefficient. In the last game of the season, in a lucky yet divine way, Porto B managed to stay in the second division, despite losing the derby against Benfica by a one goal (ultimately a point) difference and using 8 first team players in the game. Johan tells us about it in this article.
National
2021 was a memorable year for boxing legend deaths. On March 13th, “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler passed away at the age of 66. Hagler was an undisputed middleweight champion, with his most-dominant performances coming in the 1980s when he defended his title 12 times. In 67 total fights, he was 62-3-2.
Other boxing legend deaths in 2021 included: Leon Spinks (February 5th) who is part of a very select group who once defeated the great Mohammad Ali.
BTW, this year, we also had the opportunity to visit the Louisville, Kentucky native Mohammad Ali museum. The museum is a must-see attraction if you are boxing fan -like I am- in the heart of downtown Louisville.
Global
On March 27th, days after an Evergreen container ship became lodged in the Suez Canal blocking all commercial traffic, it was reported that it would take days to weeks to dislodge it. The 224,000 ton vessel first became lodged on March 23, with no sign of budging. On March 29, the rear of the ship was dislodged, but rescuers believed it would still take time to refloat the vessel and fully open the canal. On March 31, rescue missions failed yet again as rescuers announced that they may need to remove 706,000 cubic feet of sand in order to move it. Water may also need to be removed from around the area in order to remove the ship.
April
Personal
As a family, we made the calculated decision to allow me to spend a good portion of the USL-C season in Louisville to help Jogo out during this important year. After 60+ days of preseason, Jogo started regular season play on April 24th under then-coach John Hackworth. He performed well in a 2-0 victory over Atlanta United II. His first and last hockey assists for the season ironically coincided with his first and last games of the season.
National
On April 5th, the NCAA March Madness championship game was played at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis. The big XII underdog Baylor Bears (which defeated my running horns) were crowned national champions by beating the then undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs by a score of 86-70. This was the first time the Men’s Baylor Basketball team won the championship game.
May
Personal
Upon FC Porto’s season conclusion, Johan briefly returned home after being away for an entire year and playing without fans. 2020 and 2021 will undoubtedly go down in the world history books as tough years for professionals and footballers were not the exception. Johan, playing exclusively as a midfielder, helped Porto B avoid relegation. FC Porto helped him become a more versatile player; however, we, as a family, ultimately made the difficult decision to leave the Portuguese market for the time-being. It was a tough, very tough decision. FC Porto is a great organization and the Portuguese market, like any other, has its nuances. Some may disagree and think that the Portuguese football market has historically been brutal for American players. Possibly true…we are working on a publication about the Portuguese football market. Porto as a city is such a beautiful, touristic, paradisiac place with a very easy language to learn. We’ll definitely miss it.
Meanwhile, Jogo received his first callup to the Mexican senior national team for training. During camp, he got to know all the players who were preparing for the new Nations League tournament.
At camp, Tecatito, and friend of Johan from Porto, confused Jogo with Johan and told him: “No mames gūey, se parecen un buen” (The resemblance of the two is incredible at times).
National/Global
On May 30th and 23 years since their last league title, Mexico’s Liga MX Cruz Azul (my club) was crowned Guardianes’s champion reaching its 9th star after defeating Santos Laguna in both legs of the championship games. The victory hit close to home as the family bleeds blue. Without a doubt, its impact was felt internationally due to the many championship games Cruz Azul had previously lost in the most dramatic ways during those 23 years, and thus the inception of the verb: “cruzazulear“. A curse had been indeed broken. The game was extra special for all of me as Johan and I watched it together at home. Honestly, I shed a few tears of joy…
On June 6th, the USMNT defeated Mexico by a score of 3-2 in overtime to claim the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League title. In a back and forth contest that had to go to overtime, the US team overcame a deficit twice. This would be the first of three victories by the USMNT over Mexico in 2021.
Global
2021 marked what some would consider the end of Rafael Nadal era in major tennis tournaments. Nadal entered the French Open as the heavy favorite seeking to become the first man to win 21 majors and his 14th French Open. He reached the semifinals of the clay event where he encountered Novak Djokovic in a rematch of the previous year’s final. There, Nadal was upset by eventual champion Djokovic in four sets, in only his third-ever (two to Djokovic) loss at the French Open. Following his loss, Nadal withdrew from both Wimbledon and the Olympics citing a left foot injury. Prior to the French Open, Nadal had lost in the quarterfinals at another major: the Australian Open.
July
July was a very busy month in terms of sporting events and more so with championship stories that had not taken place in many decades in the international realm.
Personal
After a brief training period which included some scrimmages, Johan signed with FSV Zwickau. Managed by American Coach Joe Enochs who played alongside Gregg Berhalter, Johan opened another door in a different market for himself. He quickly showed his quality scoring a goal in his second friendly. Germany opened up its borders shortly after which allowed the family to go visit him and help him get settled in Zwickau. It was a memorable trip.
National
The closure of the US-Canada borders due to the pandemic forced the NHL to temporarily realign the teams in three US-based divisions and one Canadian division to limit travel. The top four teams in each division played each other with the winners of those games advancing to the divisional round. The four divisional playoff champions were then re-seeded by regular season points in the Stanley Cup Semifinals. The winners of the Semifinals played each other in the Stanley Cup Finals. On July 7th, the Tampa Bay Lighting defeated the Montreal Canadiens in game 5 to win its 3rd NHL Stanley Cup Final.
Global
On July 10th, Argentina (and Messi) finally won the 47th edition of Copa America by defeating archrival Brazil by a score of 1-0. I still remember watching Argentina’s last international tournament victory 28 years ago in 1993 vs Mexico. This trophy is ultimately what gave Messi the advantage to edge other footballers in the pursuit of yet another Golden Ball or Ballon d’Or.
The next day, on July 11th, Italy won the Euro 2020* by defeating England by a score of 3-2. Their last Euro was celebrated 53 years ago. For our family, it was a great moment having watched the Italy vs Spain semifinal game while in Spain.
Tokyo Olympics:
COVID continued to impact the world of sports relentlessly. The Tokyo Olympics were supposed to take place in 2020 but a calculated decision was made to move them to 2021. It was an atypical Olympics without fans where, among many abnormalities, Simon Biles reminded us that it’s OK to not be OK. The USWNT wanted to return to their *normal* winning ways; however, in a surprising slow performance in bracket play, the team did not advance to the championship match. Instead, the team ended up earning a bronze medal against a tough Australian side by the score of 4-3 but underperforming in their journey.
NBA Finals
We knew that the NBA was very popular in Mexico but now we have witnessed first hand how many fans follow it in Europe. To cement 2021 as the “come-backs” in sports other than football, after 50 years since their last championship in 1971, the Milwaukee Bucs defeated the Phoenix Suns in 6 games to win their 2nd franchise title.
August
Personal
Jogo suffered a slight knock in the game against Oklahoma City (played on turf) and missed Mexico’s first set of U20 MNT friendlies in Spain. Unfortunately, we are now experts at this type of adversity; in a similar fashion, back in 2020, Johan had missed the January U20 MNT camp and March friendlies due to injury and the pandemic respectively. Unfortunately, injuries are an inevitable part of this sport and yet, we, as a family, still struggle coping with these temporary setbacks. A few months afterwards, Jogo was fortunate enough to be selected again to play against France, and England in another Mexico U20 set of friendlies in Spain.
National
Gold cup
On August 1st, in another back and forth match, the USMNT defeated Mexico in overtime by a score of 1-0 to win the Gold Cup. This title marked the second consecutive victory in the summer over the Mexican rivals.
Global
On August 10th, after 21 years spent at Barcelona, Messi and Barcelona part ways in an emotional yet expected announcement. A few days later, PSG announced the signing of the super star. His adaptation period in France has been nothing but easy so far.
September was a great month on the personal footballing side of things…
Personal
On September 1st, Jogo celebrated his 18th birthday and became eligible to sign with a European club. As a family, we had traveled to Spain in preparation for this event. On September 30th, the announcement was finally made public by LouCity and Real Sociedad. Read all about it in the link above.
Johan officially opened his scoring account in Germany and scored his first league goal and bagged his first hockey assist in the same game. He’s continued to have success in the league and we are looking forward to what 2022 has prepared for him.
October
Personal
I moved to Zwickau Germany for about 5 weeks to live with Johan. I loved every minute of it; we had not lived at the same place since he was 15. I’m grateful we got to spend some quality time together and I got to learn about a different culture during COVID times.
National
On October 14th, former Secretary of State Colin Powell dies of COVID-19 complications at age 84. Powell was the first Black U.S. secretary of state serving from 2001-2005, and had shaped foreign policy in leadership roles in a number of Republican administrations. RIP Colin Powell.
November
Personal
LouCity’s season ended prematurely in an abrupt and dramatic way at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rowdies again in the Eastern Conference final game. Our family made the trip to St. Petersburg to support Jogo.
UEFA Champions League
On November 3rd, while I was still in Germany, Johan surprised me with tickets to attend our first Champions League game together in Red Bull Arena in Leipzig. We are making this a tradition, when he was at Porto, we had had the opportunity to watch Porto vs. Young Boys.
Unfortunately, we did not get to see Messi but we got to see Mbappe, Neymar, and the player who stole the show: “el fideo” DiMaria. The final 2-2 score did not disappoint. Spending time with my oldest: priceless. Looking forward to the next one Johan.
We indeed closed the year in a strong way by attending some other important international games.
WC Qualifying:
Following the UEFA Champions League game, on November 15th, I attended the World Cup Qualifying game between USA vs Mexico game in Cincinnati. TQL stadium. It was a unique experience. The US squad beat Mexico for a third time in 2021. This time the score was another 2-0.
National
On November 2nd, the Atlanta braves won their 4th world series. This time, they convincingly defeated the Houston Astros (7-0) in the 6th game of the series.
Global
On November 8th, after 20 months of having its international borders shut down, the US decides to open them back up. Unfortunately, I traveled back home from Germany on that day and the trip became longer than usual as security lines were super long. Patience is indeed a virtue.
December
December was an extremely busy month from a sporting perspective and it hasn’t yet concluded. History is still being written…
Personal
Jogo is called up to the USMNT.
USMNT Callup
Jogo received his first USMNT callup. One that would have never taken place if the Spanish working visa were not taking an eternity to process. He made his USMNT debut and played a small role in the only goal.
Jogo finally completes his move to Real Sociedad. This is what Xabi Alonso had to say about him back in October hoping that he would be with the team in November…
National
Liga MX
Honoring the slogan of the year of the comebacks, Atlas FC, after 70 years of their last championship title, defeated Leon in penalty kicks to win the Grita México Apertura title on December 12th. This game was even more memorable than my Cruz Azul’s May title due to their longer dry spell. En horabuenta a todos mis amigos rojinegros. I know the feeling of relief. There are many Atlas fans scattered throughout México and the US.
Football
On December 28th, the ex-NFL Hall of Fame coach John Madden passed away at the age 85. Some will remember him from his coaching days with the Oakland Raiders. He won a super bowl there. Yet others will remember him from his NFL broadcasting days (commentating my cowboys games) with his simple analysis. The younger generation will always associate him to the Madden NFL Football video games. In any of those facets, Madden will be remembered as a legend on and off the field and perhaps the person who has impacted the NFL the most with his relentless love of the game. RIP John Madden.
Global
Formula 1
For the first time in nearly 50 years (another resurgence), the title frontrunners: Britan’s Lewis Hamilton and the Dutch Max Verstappen entered the final race level on points. Red Bull team’s Max Verstappen took Abu Dhabi’s pole position with a brilliant display but Mercedes team’s Hamilton shared the front row seeking his eight title.
In an ending fit for this most chaotic and captivating of seasons, that all changed when the Safety Car emerged late on, allowing Verstappen to pit again and attack Hamilton on the final lap of the season, the Dutchman passing at Turn 5 to close out victory and, with it, the 2021 drivers’ title for the first time. México’s Checo Pérez ultimate Red Bull’s team effort positioned Verstappen to win the race. What a race!!!
2021 was definitely the second consecutive COVID impacted year and as the famous Yogi Berra once said: “It’s not over until it’s over”. There are still a few days left this year and we must finish strong even as the daily COVID cases continue to set record highs. All in all, there are still several silver lining items to reflect upon. One being that we are definitely closer to reaching a new normalcy and that can only be encouraging news. People have started realizing what’s truly important in their lives these past couple of years. On the sporting side of things, many sports records/curses were finally broken. Thus, we approach 2022 with a lot of hope and expect that the new year brings us more pleasant surprises and more sporting history will surely be written. Here are some things our family will be looking forward to.
Personal
Togetherness is the fuel that keeps our family functioning. We hope 2022 allows us the ability to gather, reunite, and openly interact with one another. Recently, 19+ months passed since the last time our family was all in the same room. Well, that meeting finally occurred, of all places, at the DFW airport. Below are some pictures of us picking up Johan from his return from Germany trip and us returning from Jogo’s USMNT debut. It’s been very challenging and will continue to be so; however, if we were able to withstand 19+ months apart, 2022 has nothing on us with our recharged batteries and positive energy.
2022 will definitely start off a bit challenging for the family with Jogo’s unplanned delayed arrival to Spain due to his ongoing work visa dilemma. We are hoping he gets to register on time to be able to play in the spring. Either way, we will have to go drop him off in San Sebastian, Spain in a few days. Some tears will be shed but we know he will be in a good place and closer to Johan.
On Johan’s side, he is in a good, stable environment and we hope he stays healthy above all. If he can do that consistently, he will inevitably continue to play an instrumental piece in FSV Zwickau’s attack and impact game outcomes like he has been. He has settled in well in Germany and could be in auto-pilot mode the second half of the season. The family will go visit both of them in the next few months COVID-permitting.
The pandemic uncertainty has not gone away. At the beginning of 2021, we thought we had a vaccine solution for the Delta variant. Now, Omicron is here. Hope is the last thing to lose and we certainly hope 2022 turns out to be a better year for all of us. For now, we can only plan our pathways with the information available; in the process, there will be definitely be twists and turns that will require adjustments. Seize the day #carpediem
Global
On a very football selfish personal note, 2022 will be a World Cup year and that’s always an event that draws global attention.
Qatar World Cup (WC)
Towards the end of the calendar year, the world will have a chance to witness the next WC. It will be the fist WC in the modern era to be played in the month of December. We are all so looking forward to it but until then, let’s keep in touch.
Social Media
We are always grateful for the support towards our family. If you like to stay up on the latest and don’t follow us yet in other social media platforms, please do so. We have a variety of content. You can find us at the links below. Happy 2022 New Year everyone!!!
It’s important for families and young players to understand that football is an emotional (sometimes draining), volatile endeavor. One day, you are enjoying victory at the top of the pinnacle and the next you are tasting the sourness of defeat. Patience and persistence are key resilience characteristics to prevail. In our case, one could argue that we were well-prepared for adversity since Johan spent most of last season (thousand of miles away from us) injured. Honestly, the recent volatility we experienced wasn’t as dramatic as described above but let’s be honest, last week was far from ideal for the Gómez’s…
FC Porto B had their first game of the 2020-2021 season last week and we were happy that Johan made the 18 (celebrate small victories, right?); unfortunately, he didn’t get to play. FC Porto B giving up an early goal, and playing an important away game didn’t help his cause either. He’s strong mentally and understood it to be a tactical move given the flow of the game. Meanwhile, at LouCity Jogo received some “game management” minutes in their “do or die” victory against St. Louis. He looked really energetic and daring in his short cameo and should have had a goal. LouCity is in a hot streak and honestly, why change something that is currently working.
Making the best out of the minutes 09.12.20 (Louisville, KY)
The third Jogo fared a little better and played one of her best games having an assist but her team lost in a lopsided defeat by a sister club team. Ironically, Joana’s team had previously dominated that same team a week earlier (volatility). That’s the way the game goes sometimes. As a family, we moved on and prepared for the next opportunities to rebound and that’s exactly what happened this past weekend.
“One’s best successes come after their greatest disappointments” – Henry Ward Beecher
It all started Friday at noon with Joana’s first Cross Country (CC) meet. The temperature was great and although she did not set a personal record (PR), she ran a new course elegantly and finished first in her school team (7th overall). It was a difficult (hilly and super muddy) course but she managed to represent us all really well.
7th place overall XC meet. 09.20.20 (Argyle, TX)
The good news continued Saturday morning (+6 hours in Porto). Johan was not only on the 18 but starting against favorite FC Vizela at home in a typical rainy Porto September evening in front of FC Porto’s President. That type of exposure doesn’t happen every day.
Johan looking strong 09.19.20 (Oporto, Portugal)
Johan had 40 solid minutes; he was involved in each of the three first half goals. His second half was mostly about game management. Here is his assist that led to a PK for the second goal.
Johan’s first assist of the season: FC Porto B (4) vs FC Vizela (1) 09.19.20 (Oporto, Portugal)
What stole the show for us was this sublime play that led to FC Porto B’s third goal. The first touch is exquisite and the finish followed suit. Congrats son.
Johan’s first goal of the season: FC Porto B (4) vs FC Vizela (1) 09.19.20 (Oporto, Portugal)
Saturday continued with a good showing for the Gómez’s as Jogo registered his 4th start of the season with LouCity. His aerial duels have improved, his technical and tactical awareness are very solid. In general, he’s making the most out of his opportunities and keeping a growth mindset. LouCity overall is very talented all-around and he’s fighting for minutes and contributing when called upon. The team is undefeated in its last 9 games and have almost secured a place in the playoffs. Looking forward to St. Louis game tomorrow against Indy.
On Sunday, the weekend ended extremely well with Joana. Despite playing a new position which is more defensive, she had an assist in an important away game in Houston. Inclement weather was a factor but she played well. We are beginning to see the start of something special with her and are excited to see what will soon come her way if she applies herself. There’s a lot of work to be done with all of the Gómez’s clan but we need to be patient and persevere in all the adversity that may come our way. There will be rough times in the lives of athletes time and again but with the strong support of family and friends, those rough times can be ephemeral life lessons. It’s #theGomezway
Houston Dash (1) Solar (1) 09.20.20 (The Woodlands, TX)
On a lighter note, please have a laugh. Enjoy the latest episode of Chum Chat. Judson, Tanner, and Johan raid two U20 MNT pool player Instagram accounts: Cole Bassett’s and Kevin Bonilla’s. It’s one of the funniest episodes yet and one that you don’t want to miss. These young adults have such chemistry and we have football to thank for that friendship.
Nos da un gran gusto ver a los miembros de la familia pamboleando con sus respectivos equipos. Mientras Jogo anotaba otro gol (se lo anularon debido a un fuera de lugar) contra el equipo nacional sub-17 de Estados Unidos en Florida (tercer juego consecutivo anotando), Johan tuvo una asistencia en el amistoso (debido al paro por la fecha FIFA) del FC Porto. Para culminar bien el día, el tercer Jogo se despachó con la cuchara grande y anotó un “hat trick”. Los goles y las asistencias siempre serán el resultado del juego de conjunto y a veces hasta circunstanciales pero nunca se darán en exceso; hay que celebrarlos mientras se pueda. A final de cuentas, nos fascina que estén disfrutando el “deporte de las masas” tal y como debe de jugarse con alegría y disciplina. Y por cierto, ya falta un día menos para reunir a la familia.
Gol anulado de Jogo Selección de USA sub-16 vs Selección de USA sub-17
In these times of uncertainty, we sincerely hope everyone is safe, healthy and most of all, enjoying some down time with family. We would like to take this opportunity to share some recent family anecdotes which initially appeared to be disastrous, but are proving to be beneficial. We hope you find them comforting and perhaps they help soften the impact of the current Coronavirus adversities however those may be affecting your personal lives.
One of the hardest things that the Gomez’s have had to adjust to in the past year has been living away from our oldest children (especially Johan). Yes, technology facilitates certain things but you can’t change others such as the time difference. Although both Johan and Jogo left home when they were 16 and 13 respectively, they were both within a manageable driving distance from us (if they ever needed us). Also, we would see them at least once a week and when we did, we were ALL HAPPY; we miss that. Nowadays, we see them once every 2-3 months and it becomes especially worrisome (nostalgic even) in turbulent times like the ones taking place now.
Johan being in a country where the COVID-19 confirmed cases climb up exponentially every day, far away from us, makes us feel helpless. Honestly, it’s a humbling feeling that tests our patience thresholds. Yes, we worry sick about him because in the end “that’s what us parents do best“. On the other hand, Jogo being twelve hours (driving distance) away, seems to be within reach if an emergency comes up but he’s still far. In the end, we trust that the Lord will guide them appropriately.
If you happen to have your children close to you (more so during these challenging times), give them a hug, tell them how much you love them and reminisce about life events with them. Go through old pictures/video together. Not all of us are THAT fortunate right now. Before you know it, your kids will be gone building their own legacy and chasing their own dreams.
I will start closing this post on a positive note. Although football is full of sacrifices as some would say; it’s also full of rewards, ironies and some fortune. Sometimes luck is on your side yet others it isn’t. See, in less than two months, Johan has been called up twice for different U20 MNT camps and guess what? He has been unable to attend either. Some would say, that’s terrible luck (maybe so). For the first camp in January, as you some of you already know, he was injured just days before he was scheduled to fly out to Florida. In hindsight, the unexpected additional down time gave him and his friends time to give birth to another life project: Chumchat and discover perhaps another talent. The second U20 MNT camp (in Portugal) was cancelled a couple of days ago and although Johan was disappointed, he recognizes that this down time will present new opportunities once again. In the end, football is only a small part of our lives right now and we must seize each day. “Carpe Diem” Johan until the next opportunity, then, be prepared.
Last but not least, Jogo was invited with the U19 MNT to Spain for an international tournament. As a family, we were looking forward to enjoying watching the boys represent the US crest simultaneously. Unfortunately, the tournament also got cancelled. While that was unfortunate, Jogo is using the unexpected additional down time to continue excelling in his new high school and familiarizing himself with his new life in Louisville. We try to teach the boys that in the face of adversity, it’s how you bounce back that determines the ultimate outcome and molds your character.
The Gomez’s are resilient to “bad luck”, adversity but most of all, remain hopeful that there will be brighter times ahead of us. For all of you, stay resilient, healthy, and faithful out there. This will inevitably pass and life will return to “normal”. Make the best out of these times. Until next time. #theGomezWay
1 John 5-5
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
#TheGomezway 