The 2026 World Cup is now just around the corner, with Argentine Mauricio Pochettino leading the USMNT as their head coach. There will also be links to Argentina and the U.S. at the tournament on the media side. Andres Cantor of Telemundo, who has dual citizenship of both countries, and his son, Nico Cantor of CBS Sports Golazo, will both be covering the tournament.
Speaking exclusively to The American Pitch, Andres and his son, Nico, who is also a broadcaster, are excited about the tournament. Nico was just a year old when the United States last hosted a World Cup, but believes the tournament this summer can change the face of soccer in the country.
"I think we've been a football country. We watch every league around the world, in Europe, in the Americas, I would say more than any other country on Earth. We follow this sport en masse, and to have the world's greatest game in our backyard and the most prestigious tournament of all time is a blessing, and I think it'll change the landscape of American soccer for a long time." Said Nico.
Andres does recall when the U.S. last hosted the World Cup. "I remember vividly how we transformed the game in 1994. So I have no doubt that I will do the same now that soccer has grown so much since then, so it's going. I really think it's going to be a great tournament, and, uh, it will leave its impacting legacy."
What will success be for the USMNT at this World Cup?
The pair have been colleagues and broadcast a 2025 Nations League match between Canada and Mexico together for Paramount+. In that tournament, the USMNT lost to the Canadians in the match for third place. However, Pochettino's side has come a long way since then.
Andres is confident about Pochettino's approach to the tournament. "Pochettino told me in an interview that he wants them to win the World Cup. I think that is the right approach, and the right mentality to go into any tournament, whether he knows it can happen or not. I'm pretty sure he does. In my honest view, I think they've reached the quarter-finals. It will be a good showing."
Nico agrees that getting to the quarter-finals will be a huge achievement for the USMNT. "Getting to the quarterfinals, which is, honestly, an incredible benchmark to achieve. means that you will have won two knockout stage games. Which is double the amount of knockout stage games that the U.S. has won since 2002.
"It has to be your day, and you never know, but I do think if the U.S. gets to a quarterfinal, it'll feel like they're achieving that the forward progress has significantly been made."
Andres helped nurture Nico into the broadcaster he is today
Andres has helped nurture Nico into the broadcaster he is today, giving him his first job as a sideline reporter at his radio company, FĂştbol de Primera. Nico is now a fantastic broadcaster in his own right. Of course, when someone follows their father into any industry, there are always accusations of nepotism.
Nico recognizes the help that his father has given him throughout his career. "I'm very fortunate to have my dad as my dad to get to pick the brain of one of the greatest football broadcasters of all time. I'm not gonna lie to you. Did my last name open doors? Of course it did. I recognize that I'm fortunate enough to perhaps have a head start in this industry that a lot of people weren't afforded.
"But I think through my hard work and the ethics that I put behind it, how much I prepare my broadcast, and how dedicated I am to my craft. Has allowed me to take even further steps through that door. In this industry, I think if you don't show that dedication, if you don't show the conviction that you have for what you do, it doesn't matter whose son you are. I feel like you won't be able to take those steps forward. So I am incredibly appreciative for having been born into the life that I was born into. I know that not a lot of people get to have that advantage, which I certainly will never tell you that I didn't have that advantage, because I did. You gotta work as well on top of that and get to where you, you gotta be."
Lionel Messi will be massive at the World Cup this summer
Andres and Nico are ambassadors for Lowe's, who are a retail company that specializes in home improvements. Lowe's is also partnered with Lionel Messi, and their latest product is a 10-foot inflatable figure of the player to go on your lawn.
Lowe's is also organizing 20-foot Messi inflatables to be on show between May 15-17. These will be at New York City (Seaport), Dallas (Klyde Warren Park), Miami (Nu Stadium), and Atlanta (Piedmont Park). As ambassadors, Andres will be appearing at the Nu Stadium, and Nico will be at the Seaport activation.
Nico is excited by the partnership. "I think Lowe's partnering with Messi is quite unique in itself. You know, you're not only partnering with Messi, who's playing in Major League Soccer at the moment, you're partnering with one of the main players at this summer's tournaments. And one of the main faces of football for the last, what, 15 years?
"There's going to be a 20 foot Messi in certain cities around the country this weekend, where they're going to be giving away inflatable Messis for people to take back home. And he's gonna be in your household quite literally on the TV screens and, you know, in the backyard, at your family barbeques, and he'll be with you through the World Cup, and maybe he can throw them up in Thanksgiving or Christmas or Halloween even, but I think it won't scare people. It'll probably attract people close to your house."
The CBS broadcaster was surprised that Messi continued to play for Argentina after winning the World Cup in 2022. "First, he said in several interviews that Qatar was going to be his last World Cup, and then he alluded to Copa America 2024 being his last tournament for the Argentine national team. And he seems to not be going away. Not only is he a supreme footballer, he's also, an elite athlete in every sense of the word."
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