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<p>Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.</p>


Dan McQuade

Pepe Reina of Villarreal CF during the friendly football match between SSC Napoli and Villarreal CF at Diego Armando Maradona stadium. Naples (Italy), December 17th, 2022.

The Color Star Cup Runneth Over

Patrick Redford

Gregg Berhalter, Head Coach of United States, gives instruction to Giovanni Reyna during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Netherlands and USA at Khalifa International Stadium on December 03, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Patrick Smith - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Report: Reyna Family Gave U.S. Soccer Details About Gregg Berhalter’s 1991 Domestic Violence Incident

DOHA, QATAR - DECEMBER 3: Greg Berhalter of the United States lines up for the national anthem before a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Netherlands and USMNT at Khalifa International Stadium on December 3, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Gregg Berhalter, U.S. Soccer Release Statements About Alleged Blackmail Plot Over 1991 Domestic Violence Incident

Ray Ratto

To Think Of Soccer Is To Think Of Pelé

Billy Haisley

Gabriel Martinelli celebrates scoring the 2nd Arsenal goal with (L) Granit Xhaka, (R) William Saliba, (2ndR) Eddie Nketiah, (3rdL) Martin Odegaard and (3rdR) Bukayo Saka during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 26, 2022 in London, England.

At Least We Have Arsenal Back

Lionel Messi right winger of Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain with the World Cup trophy after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

The World Cup Belongs To The Dreamers

Nobody Is Scarier Than Kylian Mbappé


<p>Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99</p>


Diana Moskovitz

AL RAYYAN, QATAR - NOVEMBER 30: General view outside the stadium prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group D match between Tunisia and France at Education City Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Capital

A World Cup Of Blood And Gold

Samer Kalaf

Turkish chef Salt Bae poses with World Cup trophy.

Life's Rich Pageant

Salt Bae Thinks He’s On The Team

Tom Ley

This Emmanuel Macron Guy Is A Real Piece Of Work

Kelsey McKinney

The Winner Of The World Cup Is Little Smooches

Luis Paez-Pumar

Andrés Cantor Called Argentina’s World Cup Win Like Only He Could

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 18: goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez of Argentina celebrates receiving the trophy for best goalkeeper of the tournament after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Let’s Give A Big Hand For Emi Martínez!

Lionel Messi of Argentina poses with his Golden ball award following the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Lionel Messi Is Done Chasing Ghosts

Lionel Messi, Captain of Argentina lifts the FIFA World Cup Trophy following his team's victory in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Argentina Went To Hell And Back To Win The World Cup

DOHA, QATAR - DECEMBER 15: France National Team Training Session at Al Sadd SC on December 16, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Lionel Hahn/Getty Images)

Here’s One Last Goddamn Thing France Has To Try And Overcome

Maitreyi Anantharaman

HARRISON, NJ - JULY 31: The digital signage shows the NWSL logo on it before the National Women's Soccer League match between NJ/NY Gotham FC and the Houston Dash at Red Bull Arena on July 31, 2022 in Harrison, New Jersey.

NWSL Report: With Great Power Came No Responsibility

France's players celebrate their victory in the Qatar 2022 World Cup semi-final football match between France and Morocco at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha on December 14, 2022.

Farewell To Morocco, The Winners Of The World Cup

Grant Wahl with a world cup replica trophy, in recognition of their achievement of covering 8 or more FIFA World Cups, during an AIPS / FIFA Journalist on the Podium ceremony at the Main Media Centre on November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Grant Wahl Died Of A Ruptured Artery

Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi outpasses Croatia's defender #20 Josko Gvardiol during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football semi-final match between Argentina and Croatia at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 13, 2022.

Lionel Messi Makes The Difference

Soccer: FIFA World Cup: Closeup portrait of SI Senior Writer Grant Wahl reading South Korean newspaper on street. Seoul, South Korea 6/20/2002

I Was A Grant Wahl Reply Guy

A fan in the stands holds aloft a replica World Cup trophy during the FIFA World Cup Quarter-Final match at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Picture date: Friday December 9, 2022.

The World Cup’s Beauty Is In The Eye Of Its Holder

A member of Morocco's team holds a Palestinian flag after the team won the penalty shoot-out to win the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 football match between Morocco and Spain at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on December 6, 2022.

Palestine Is All Over The World Cup

Gregg Berhalter’s Off-The-Record Oopsie Puts Heat On Gio Reyna

Jawad El Yamiq kisses the head of Portugal defender Pepe after he missed a header in the waning minutes of Morocco's World Cup quarterfinal win.

Kiss Kiss, Bye Bye