Why have so many World Cup tickets been sold in the U.S.? Sunil Gulati has four reasons: “[It] “says a lot about the growth of the game in the U.S.,” said Sunil Gulati, president of the U.S. Soccer Federation. “It also says something about the size of our country, the wealth of our country and the diversity of our country.” Buried deep within this article is a warning to fans attending the U.S.-England game: BIDEN IS GOING! As Union fans can tell you, if you’re going to a Biden match, you’d better leave yesterday if you want to get in on time.

Africa’s first 100mph train has opened it’s first track just in time for the World Cup. The Gautrain will eventually travel around South Africa, but right now the $3 billion train only links the airport to downtown Johannesburg.

The website of the North Korean Football Association of Japan is mostly in Japanese, but that won’t stop you from checking out the fantastic “1966 Again” t-shirts they’re selling to commemorate the DPRK’s World Cup which ended in defeat to Portugal. The North Koreans face the Portugese in the group stage this year.

The New York Times reports that www.univisionfutbol.com will be streaming all World Cup games live, which is extremely helpful if you don’t feel like having 117% of your RAM used up by ESPN3.com.

One of the burglars who broke into Steven Gerrard’s house and threatened his wife and children was sentenced to seven years in jail. Judge Robert Warnock’s decision is worth quoting: “You threatened the occupants of the house with violence and the use of a knife. Particularly seriously, you threatened to abduct the children if she did not hand over the safe. “You are both venal and extremely violent. Your actions are determined by your own selfishness and greed.”

A superb article about the U.S. national team’s 1950 upset of England. “The New York Times, according to some accounts, received the story an hour before deadline and thought it was a hoax. Didn’t print it.”

Chicago Fire respond to criticisms about their tactics against the Union by saying, “We need to add points.” Guess what, that’s a pretty good argument (and one Italy makes during the group stage of every World Cup). Wait, did someone just say Ita-ah-ah-yaaaaaaaaawn. Wow, where did that come from?

Can somebody please explain to me why American news outlets are always more concerned with whether Americans are watching the World Cup than with the event itself? One second, I need my idea cap (pretends to put on idea cap): Why don’t we write interesting stories about the World Cup… would that contribute to national interest in the event? Does journalism have an effect on the opinions and interests of its readers and viewers? Does putting a question mark after something relieve you from taking any responsibility for the words before the punctuation? Is Landon Donovan a secret folksinger? Does Bob Bradley want to kill all the Masters of the Universe or just He-Man?

In marbles-in-your-mouth transfer news, Sacha Kljestan looks set to sign with Belgian club Anderlecht this week.

Unsubstantiated rumors have Freddy Adu making a shock move to Southampton. The only thing Freddy Adu could do to shock me these days is play good soccer.

Amy Rodriguez’s goal and assist against Sky Blue FC earned her goal.com’s WPS Player of the Week award.

MLSTalk asks if Onyewu is “still the right man for the job.” Let me answer this one. I went to see AC Milan play Inter Milan in a preseason friendly at Foxboro Stadium last summer. Diego Milito pulled the same move he used to score the second goal of the Champions League final on Onyewu to score in the first half. Gooch was stuck in place. He was never the right man for the job, but even I’ll admit that when he’s healthy, he has to play. The U.S. defends set pieces in straight man-to-man, relying on its superior athletes to win balls in the air. So little of heading is height and athletic ability; so much of it is reading the ball and the play. Top headed goalscorers in the EPL? Wayne Rooney and Tim Cahill.

Clint Dempsey, aka Deuce, raps on his single “Don’t Tread”:

Don\’t Tread