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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Albert Burneko

Donald Trump looking like a saggy orange bag of shit on his way onto Air Force 1 for a trip to the Middle East.

Journalismism

NYT Reporter: It’s Not Corruption Unless The Envelope Says “Bribe” On It

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Logan Sargeant drives a Williams car in the Qatar Grand Prix.

Racing

The 2023 Qatar Grand Prix Was An Atrocity

Samer Kalaf

A closeup of the Qatar World Cup gold medal

Capital

Qatar’s Interest In The Washington Wizards Is The Next Step

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

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)

A World Cup Of Blood And Gold

Turkish chef Salt Bae poses with World Cup trophy.

Life's Rich Pageant

Salt Bae Thinks He’s On The Team

Luis Paez-Pumar

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.

Soccer

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

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

Grant Wahl holds a microphone while covering an international friendly.

Grant Wahl Dies In Qatar After Collapsing During World Cup Match

Qatar’s World Cup CEO Scolds Reporters For Noticing That Another Worker Died

Achraf Hakimi of Morocco celebrates after the team's victory in the penalty shoot out during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Morocco and Spain at Education City Stadium on December 06, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

Spain Beat Itself Again

Cameroonian Football Federation President Samuel Eto'o during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group G match between Cameroon and Serbia at Al Janoub Stadium on November 28, 2022 in Al Wakrah, Qatar.

Samuel Eto’o Kicked A Guy In The Face At The World Cup

Ray Ratto

Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States reacts at the final whistle after a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Netherlands and USMNT at Khalifa International Stadium on December 3, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. He's dejected with his head in shirt and the USMNT just got a thorough drubbing.

To Nobody’s Surprise, The Americans Deliver No Surprises

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group D football match between France and Denmark at Stadium 974 in Doha on November 26, 2022.

Underexplained Lists

The 16 Teams Left In The World Cup, Ranked By Coolness

Julian Alvarez of Argentina celebrates with Enzo Fernandez after scoring their team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Poland and Argentina at Stadium 974 on November 30, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Argentina’s Young Stars Have Arrived

A dejected Joachim Andersen of Denmark at full time after being knocked out the FIFA World Cup in the group stages during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group D match between Australia and Denmark at Al Janoub Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Al Wakrah, Qatar

Denmark Was Something Rotten

Amos Barshad

Harry Kane of England walks around the pitch after being substituted during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between England and IR Iran at Khalifa International Stadium on November 21, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Harry Kane

A board signifying 14 minutes of first half stoppage time is seen during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between England and IR Iran at Khalifa International Stadium on November 21, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Where Is All This World Cup Stoppage Time Coming From?

Patrick Redford

DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 22: Robert Lewandowski of Poland shoots a penalty which is saved by Guillermo Ochoa of Mexico during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Mexico and Poland at Stadium 974 on November 22, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by)

Internationals

Memo Ochoa Still Has More World Cup Magic In Him

Billy Haisley

USA's forward #21 Timothy Weah celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between USA and Wales at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on November 21, 2022.

There’s No Weah In Hell I’m Going To Get Too Bummed About The USMNT’s Draw

England Beat Iran While FIFA And Qatar Beat Everyone Else

Salem Aldawsari of Saudi Arabia celebrates as he scores the goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium on November 22, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Saudi Arabia Had Too Much Fight For Argentina To Handle

Tom Ley

World Cup Teams Back Off Plan To Wear Rainbow Armbands

Enner Valencia of Ecuador , Celebrates the 0:1 goal, which was pulled back for offside during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Al Khor, Qatar.