Afshin’s Notes

In a recent interview with BBC News, renowned football coach Afshin Ghotbi shared his thoughts on the possibility of Iranian players participating in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 despite current geopolitical tensions. Ghotbi, who has coached both the Iran national football team and the United States men’s national soccer …

As an American citizen born in Iran, and someone fortunate enough to coach both the U.S. and Iranian national teams, I feel a personal responsibility to speak about the World Cup 2026 Draw and Iran’s delegation. Football has shown me, time and time again, its power to bridge boundaries and …

The Great Sporting event on the planet is just around the corner, seven months to be exact. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark a new chapter in football history 48 nations, 104 matches, and three host countries across North America. It promises to be the biggest World Cup ever …

Some players are born into the game, others are built through it. Peter Vagenas is both. His journey from the youth fields of Pasadena to representing the United States at the 2000 Olympic Games and later guiding the LA Galaxy to a historic double stands as one of American football’s …

I still can remember staying awake through the night in the early 70’s to watch Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Monchengladbach on my small black and white television set. One hand on the antenna to keep the picture clear and both eyes glued to screen to watch every action. Franz Beckenbauer’s …

Three and half year has come to an abrupt end. I feel an enormous pain to part with my staff, players, and supporters who I considered family. I poured my heart and soul, blood and sweat into the Shimizu S-Pulse. The results did not always illustrate the progress we made, …

Football has a funny way of steering us to unknown directions and destinations. One moment you are in the full stadium with cheering fans, and the next the lights and sounds of the stadium are a distant memory. One moment the pressure of getting results push stress levels above and …

I have seen much in my career working across the globe, but my short experience with the people and players of Curacao will leave a lasting impression in my memories. Words will never describe accurately the love and the feeling amongst the players. The sounds and sights of my experience …

My love for the game continues to take me to far away places for challenging projects. A new journey began today on the beautiful island of Curacao in the Caribbean. I will be assisting legendary former Dutch striker, Patrick Kluivert, to guide Curacao to the Semi-Final stage of World Cup …

Football connected the world. As our world continues to be polarized by extreme views and beliefs, football can mend our deflated hearts and hope. The love of the game has broken many boundaries in the past, and we must utilize football to change the narrative from hate to love. More …