WASHINGTON (AP) — The World Cup final will kick off at 3 p.m. EDT next July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
FIFA announced the start times for the tournament’s 104 matches on Saturday, a day after the draw for the expanded 48-nation tournament. The kickoff time allows for prime-time viewing in Europe, where it will be 9 p.m., and Britain, where it will be 8 p.m.
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The average 3 p.m. temperature over the past 30 years in East Rutherford on July 19 is 83 degrees (28 Celsius) with a RealFeel index of 89 (32), according to AccuWeather.
Nine of the 10 World Cup finals from 1978 through 2014 started in the 2-3:30 p.m. EDT range, the exception 2002 in Japan, which began at 7 a.m. EDT. The 2018 final started at 11 a.m. EDT and the 2022 championship of a tournament shifted to winter in Qatar at 10 a.m. EST.
The 1994 final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, kicked off at 12:30 p.m. local time (3:30 p.m. EDT).
The World Cup opener at Mexico City on June 11 between El Tri and South Africa will start at 1 p.m. local (3 p.m. EDT).
Semifinals will start at 2 p.m. (3 p.m. EDT) on July 14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and 3 p.m. the following day at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, both of which have retractable roofs.
Seventy-eight games will be in the U.S., including all from the quarterfinals on, and 13 apiece in Canada and Mexico.
During an event at the Capital Hilton, FIFA also announced sites of the 54 group stage games not finalized with Friday’s draw, which fixed venues for only Groups A, B and D — which include co-hosts Mexico, Canada and the United States.
South Korea is the only team other than Canada and Mexico with no games in the U.S., playing its opener in Guadalajara against the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland or North Macedonia, then facing El Tri at the same venue and finishing the round against South Africa in Monterrey.
The U.S. first-round games will be a 6 p.m. local start (9 p.m. EDT) against Paraguay at Inglewood on June 12, a noon kickoff (3 p.m. EDT) vs. Australia at Seattle seven days later and a 7 p.m. start on June 25 at SoFi against Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo.
For many families, the holidays are the one moment of the year when everyone comes together without the usual rush of deadlines, school schedules, or conflicting calendars.
And while nobody wants to turn a festive gathering into a financial seminar, these warm, unhurried moments can open the door to something surprisingly valuable: meaningful conversations about money, intentions, and the kind of legacy you want to leave.
These discussions don’t have to be heavy. In fact, when handled with a gentle touch, they can be among the most positive, affirming conversations you have with your family all year.
Start with values, not numbers
The biggest mistake people make when talking about money is assuming that it has to start with dollars and account balances. It doesn’t. A far more natural way to open up is to talk about your personal values.
• What traditions matter most to you?
• What do you hope your wealth accomplishes for your family or your community?
• What stories do you want the next generation to remember?
Framing things around values allows families to connect emotionally before pivoting to the more practical, and sometimes more difficult, details later.
Use the “all-in-one-room” moment
The holidays create the kind of environment that financial advisers often wish families could recreate year-round: relaxed, comfortable, low-pressure and conducive to honest dialogue. Instead of trying to schedule a formal meeting in the new year, casual conversation over dessert often feels more genuine.
It might be as simple as saying, “There’s something on my mind that I’d love your thoughts on,” or, “We’ve been thinking about our long-term plans, and we want to share what matters most to us.”
Clarity is a gift, not a burden
Meaningful conversations aren’t about reviewing documents or assigning responsibilities. They’re about preventing surprises and giving loved ones confidence that they understand your wishes.
Your children or heirs don’t need to know every financial detail. They only need to know how to support you and honor your wishes. Transparency now relieves them of confusion later, especially in times of stress or grief when they may need to locate documents, understand your intentions, or make decisions quickly.
Share the “why,” not just the “what”
If you’ve made decisions about how assets are divided, what causes matter to you, or what end-of-life preferences you hold, sharing the reasoning behind them now can help avoid misunderstandings later.
This isn’t a legal conversation; it’s a relational one.
Invite dialogue and curiosity
We often find that parents are surprised by how much their adult children want to know, and how relieved they feel once the topics are on the table. Encouraging questions makes the conversation two-sided, not a lecture.
A small next step keeps the momentum going
To ensure the conversation leads to progress, commit to taking a small, manageable next step: reviewing beneficiaries in January, meeting with an adviser, organizing documents, or simply agreeing to talk again next year.
The holidays offer the perfect backdrop for these conversations. They don’t need to be characterized as “serious.” Instead, when you shift the topic from “difficult financial talk” to “preserving what matters most,” you may find that these moments deepen your connections rather than disrupt them.
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The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
Bruce Helmer and Peg Webb are financial advisers at Wealth Enhancement Group and co-hosts of “Your Money” on WCCO 830 AM on Sunday mornings. Email Bruce and Peg at yourmoney@wealthenhancement.com. Advisory services offered through Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC, a registered investment adviser and affiliate of Wealth Enhancement Group.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tyler Adams has set a bold goal for the U.S. soccer team, aiming to reach the World Cup semifinals for the first time since the inaugural tournament in 1930.
“Everyone’s going to want us to say winning it is obviously the goal,” the American midfielder said Friday after the World Cup draw, “but I think setting the benchmark of the furthest the U.S. team has gone is also realistic.”
The 14th-ranked U.S. will start Group D against No. 39 Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California, and then play 26th-ranked Australia six days later at Seattle. The Americans conclude the group stage on June 25 back at SoFi Stadium against the winner of playoffs among Turkey (25), Slovakia (45), Romania (47) and Kosovo (80).
“Getting three points right off right off the bat like that would be would be an amazing start for us and just put us in a great position in the group,” star Christian Pulisic said.
It appears to be among the less difficult of the 12 groups. The top two in each advance to the new round of 32 along with the best four third-place teams.
“Listen, we all want to win a World Cup,” defender Tim Ream said. “You don’t play a tournament just to be there and so we’ve had conversations, Chris and I have had conversations about, yeah, we wan to win. I think people can laugh and say whatever they want.”
“Potentially we played all three of these teams in the last six months but that can be a little bit of a false kind of sense of security,” defender Ream said.
In nearly a century of World Cup play, the U.S. is 1-7 in knockout games, getting outscored 22-7. The Americans’ only win was 2-0 over Mexico in 2002’s round of 16, which was followed by a 1-0 quarterfinal loss to Germany. The Americans are winless in their last 12 World Cup matches against European teams, outscored 20-10.
“There’s no easy game in a World Cup. In fact, I think some of our hardest games in the previous World Cup were against the lesser opponents,” Adams said.
“It’s fair to say that the last World Cup we couldn’t set a bar or standard for anything. We didn’t know what to expect,” Adams said. “Now looking back on it, I think we have more experience. We’re a lot more mature. We’ve grown a lot as individuals and as a team.”
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Coach Mauricio Pochettino has scheduled friendlies against Belgium and Portugal in March and vs. a team to be determined and Germany just before the tournament.
As he mulls his roster, Pochettino thinks about “Miracle,” a 2004 movie he watched last month about the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team of young players that upset the heavily favored Soviet Union and went on to win the gold medal. Coach Herb Brooks’ decisions made an impression on Pochettino.
“We don’t need the best players, we need the right players to make a team a strong team,” Pochettino said. “The right players to build a powerful team with the possibility to fight with any team in the in the world. Good and right are completely different.”
Gift-giving season may seem daunting in light of inflation, tariffs and the changing economy, but it doesn’t have to be.
Several Pioneer Press reporters have compiled a list to ensure you get the most out of your holiday frills, without fearing next month’s bills.
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Whether you’re headed to Ax-man Surplus, an eclectic thrift shop on University Avenue, St. Vincent de Paul thrift store in the West Seventh neighborhood or MyThrift store in St. Paul’s North End, you’re sure to pick up items that can be elevated to gift status for a fraction of the price.
Roll up your sleeves, break out the glue stick and put the kettle on, folks. It’s time to craft.
Homemade cookie tins
Planning to make cookies for the holidays? With a few extra steps and dollars, your cookies can be elevated to a thoughtful, inexpensive gift for friends, co-workers or even your mail carrier.
Vintage cookie tins are easy to find at thrift stores this time of year and usually cost only a few dollars. With some soap and elbow grease, you can transform a neglected piece of history into a treasured carrying case full of sweets.
Add some colorful tissue paper, a ribbon and a handwritten note, and you’ve got yourself a sophisticated display for a fraction of the price.
DIY beverage kit
Instead of spending upwards of $50 for a pre-made beverage kit, you can craft one yourself if you know what to look for.
Do you want to make a cocktail kit? If so, scour the thrift stores for a pair of highball, martini or wine glasses, which are usually priced around $5 each. The glasses can be polar opposites, complement each other, or come from the same set – go with whatever you think your recipient will like the most.
Add in some spices, dehydrated orange slices and a modest bottle of liquor and your basket is done.
Do you want to make a hot cocoa kit? If so, head straight to the mug aisle and start poking around. Whether you’re looking for a colorful cup suitable for a child or a discounted Starbucks mug for the tween in your life, chances are you’ll find at least one option that fits the bill while only costing a few.
Add in some chocolates, marshmallows or fresh roasted coffee and you’re good to go.
Lastly, don’t forget to peruse the aisles for any accessories to add to your kit like a cocktail shaker, fancy stirring spoon, mug tree, drink markers or bottle stand.
Keepsake boxes
If you’re looking for a gift for that person who has everything, consider a keepsake box for them to put everything in.
This will require one or more special photos plus optional mementoes and crafty supplies such as glue, scrapbook paper and stickers.
The first step is to wander the thrift store aisles; you are looking for a simple wooden box that fits your project idea.
Back at home, gather favorite photos of the person (and perhaps of their family, friends and pets) and make photocopies of these pictures that you will glue to the box. For this collage on a box, you can also include meaningful items such as handwritten notes, newspaper clippings and more.
This keepsake box can also be as simple as one meaningful family photo, as shown here of Molly Guthrey’s late Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Tillman, with a photocopy of Carolyn’s handwritten caption, given as a Christmas keepsake box for their daughter.
A small box at Goodwill was painted, with a family photo and handwritten caption attached, to give as a Christmas keepsake. (Molly Guthrey / Pioneer Press)
A small box at Goodwill was painted, with a family photo and handwritten caption attached, to give as a Christmas keepsake. The box’s interior is adorned with scrapbook paper, more paint and a personalized stamp. (Molly Guthrey / Pioneer Press)
A Goodwill keepsake box made the perfect canvas for a family photo craft project for a Christmas gift. (Molly Guthrey / Pioneer Press)
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A small box at Goodwill was painted, with a family photo and handwritten caption attached, to give as a Christmas keepsake. (Molly Guthrey / Pioneer Press)
Once the box is painted (or not) and items are cut and glued down, seal this delicate masterpiece lightly with Mod Podge (matte). Don’t worry if it’s not perfect, that’s part of the charm of a thrifty, papery keepsake box. It can be created for any occasion!
Book lovers gift
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Books are easy to find at the thrift, so if you’re thinking about gifting a book this year, consider thrifting one, or many.
You can easily create a themed book bundle, for example: art books, history, romance, etc. Throw them in a cute thrifted basket, wrap them in newspaper with a bow and you’re good to go.
If you want to go the extra mile, consider annotating a thrifted book, adding a homemade bookmark with a quote from their favorite author, or a collage you made with magazine and paper scraps or throw in some thrifted mugs and hot cocoa.
Personalized picture frames
Gifting a family member or a friend a framed photo might seem old hat, but it doesn’t need to be.
Picture frames are a dime a dozen at most thrift stores. Wooden frames, metal frames, ornate frames, gaudy frames — you can find it all and in a variety of sizes. For this project, focus on the no-frills picture frames so you have more space to add your own.
Once you’ve selected the photo and frame, it’s time to get creative. If you want to paint the frame, you can add a funky border, cute pattern, details of the photo like where and when it was taken, or you can paint the frame to match the photo.
If you’re not confident with a paintbrush, you can also use stamps, collage or hot glue relevant items to the frame. For example, if it’s a photo from the beach? Add seashells. A photo with the kids? Add crayons. A photo from a night out? Add concert tickets, wristbands or anything that will help preserve the memory.
With very little planning and a quick trip to your local thrift store, you could have the picture-perfect gift.
Perfume lovers gift
For the person who loves fragrance, but doesn’t need you buying them a new bottle because they already own 1,000, or they’re simply picky, here’s an idea.
Vintage stores have glass perfume bottles galore: beautiful glass dabbers and those funky mister-style ones (you know, with the ball of air that you squeeze on the end). Give these to a fragrance lover, and they can put any scent they’d like inside, or simply use them as a décor piece. Bonus if you throw small samples of fragrances they’ve never tried, or a discovery set from a brand they’ve had their eye on for a while.
Not sure where to start? Talia McWright recommends the Antique Mall of St. Paul, located at the intersection of Fairview and Selby avenues, and the nearby Missouri Mouse Antiques.
Handmade ornaments
Not a seamstress? Don’t worry. Fabric ornaments made from felt are easy to do and sewing isn’t required, so long as you have fabric glue.
Simply pick a design (heart, frog, anything your heart desires), cut out the shape twice, then glue or sew them together. Be sure to leave a gap to stuff the ornament with fabric scraps or poly-fil, then glue or sew a piece of ribbon, twine or string to the top so it can be hung on a tree.
Ornaments can also be made using clay (air-dry clay is really easy to work with), or beads and string. Get creative, and have fun! It’ll be a one-of-a-kind gift that people can keep for years to come.
Music lovers gift
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Thrift a vinyl or a CD of someone’s favorite artist or genre for those old-school folks in your life. You could throw in a music-themed book as well (bonus points if it’s thrifted) or maybe a magazine featuring said artist or genre.
If you’re crafty and have the time, consider making a music-themed zine for them. It could include their favorite artist and fun facts about them, or the history of their favorite genres and how they’ve changed over time or it could simply be a list of music they should listen to, which you can write on a CD, vinyl or mixtape-shaped piece of cardstock.
If you want to go the extra mile, make a mixtape or burn a CD for someone with songs that they’d love or songs that you’ve listened to together; just make sure they have a way to listen to it. And if they don’t? Scour the thrift! Pawn shops are an extra good place for cassette decks and CD players because a lot of their electronics are tested.
Mini simmer pot kit
Add dried oranges, cinnamon sticks and cranberries to a mason jar (all dry ingredients) for friends and family to use as simmer pot ingredients.
All items can be purchased in bulk and then dispersed amongst small mason jars or any thrifted glass vessel. Add a cut piece of fabric to the lid if you want to make it festive!
Kid’s corner
If you’re holiday shopping for a kiddo in your life, start your hunt at the thrift store.
Action figures, dolls, children’s books, puzzles, board games and tricycles, to name a few, can all be found lurking at your nearest Goodwill.
Odds are you won’t find the latest Lego set, but you’ll find just about everything else – and for a bargain.
