Hal Phillips

Rivalry is nuanced but psychologist Susan Fiske nails it: "Envy says, ‘I wish I had what you have,’ but it implies, ‘And I wish you did not have it.’ Scorn says, ‘You are unworthy of my attention but I know you are down there somewhere.’" More: bit.ly/4qAxL #WorldCup26

Xabi Alonso, as my gramma would say, is too thin. He doesn't need a vote of confidence from the board. He needs a sandwich. #XabiAlonso #RealMadridManCity #RealBodyImage

Honored to speak March 11 at The Dock Bookshop in Arlington, TX as part of its "Road to the Cup — Fútbol 2026 Connect Series." Swing by at 7 pm. Good timing: "Sibling Rivalry" (preorder: bit.ly/4oL7K…) hits bookshelves a week prior #worldcup26 thedockbookshop.com/road-cup…

To be clear, while it handles financial services for the Fed, JP Morgan Chase is not the official bank of US Soccer. That would be Bank of America. One wonders what BofA thinks of the new, official USMNT social media materials issued just after Friday's WC Cup draw. #USMNT #ElTri

I mean, does FIFA give out Pulitzers, too? Asking for a friend… #Mundial2026

The past is prologue. Turns out the friendlies USSF lined up for 2025 carried some actual prescience and prep. Especially if Turkiye advances from the March playoff. Let the scrutinization begin. Like, what was this really about anyway? teapawt.org/brfootball/status/1989…

My latest for Soccer America, posted this evening. SA does grant folks a 1-time free read. But people: The World Cup draw takes place in 36 hours. Treat yourself to a subscription to the O.G. soccer news source on these shores! Now!! #USMNT, #WorldCup2026 socceramerica.com/its-depth-…

50 years ago this week, Luis Tiant leveled the greatest World Series in history with a 163-pitch complete game masterpiece. That's about all I'd remembered of Game 4. Until I watched the whole thing, the entire Series, again. On my iPhone. #MLBPlayoffs halphillips.net/recapturing-…

There was no act of Parliament, but British linguistic prejudice in this regard has proved uniform and lasting. Some might have been flattered. The English especially were not amused. They've yet to get over it. #football #soccer #FootballvSoccer instagram.com/p/C51aXaJRLOM/…

#USsoccer fans have developed a soft spot for expertly produced, soccer-centric docuseries. #WelcometoWrexham in particular has engendered a specific appreciation for futbol clubs older than dirt. To ID the oldest pro clubs the U.S., we need to go indoors. genzero.halphillips.net/engl…