Why this World Cup finally feels like a turning point for soccer in America

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The World Cup has finally arrived in America, and it's not just about the soccer. For decades, the sport has struggled to gain traction in the US, but this year's tournament has seen a significant surge in interest. The US men's national team is facing Belgium in a prime-time knockout match, with a quarterfinal spot on the line.

What Happened

• The US opener against Paraguay drew an average audience of 18 million across Fox's platforms, with another 7 million watching on Spanish-language Telemundo.
• FIFA reported that attendance surpassed 3.6 million in the first two weeks of the tournament, breaking the record set in 1994.
• The World Cup's popularity has been boosted by the US team's strong performance, with many fans tuning in to watch the matches.

Why It Matters

The World Cup's success in the US has significant implications for the sport's future in the country. If the interest can be sustained, it could lead to increased investment in soccer infrastructure, more competitive leagues, and a stronger national team.

What Experts Say

"This World Cup has been different. The US team is actually worth watching, and the interest is palpable." — Sports analyst

Meanwhile, in the world of tech, companies are discovering that AI can be pricey. The cost of using AI models is often measured by the price per 1 million tokens, but this metric is misleading. Different labs have their own tokenizers, which can result in varying costs for the same input.

The Cost of AI

• The price per 1 million tokens is not a reliable measure of AI costs.
• Different labs have their own tokenizers, which can result in varying costs for the same input.
• Companies need to consider the actual cost of using AI models, rather than relying on misleading metrics.

In other news, Waymo's autonomous cars were involved in a gridlock in San Francisco on July 4. The company confirmed that some of its vehicles stalled due to a high volume of travelers and unexpected road closures.

Autonomous Cars

• Waymo's autonomous cars were involved in a gridlock in San Francisco on July 4.
• The company confirmed that some of its vehicles stalled due to a high volume of travelers and unexpected road closures.
• This is not the first time that Waymo's cars have caused traffic jams in the city.

Key Facts

• Who: Waymo, FIFA, US men's national team
• What: World Cup, AI costs, autonomous cars
• When: July 4, World Cup tournament
• Where: San Francisco, US
• Impact: Increased interest in soccer, misleading AI costs, challenges for autonomous cars

What Comes Next

As the World Cup continues, it will be interesting to see if the interest in soccer can be sustained in the US. In the world of tech, companies will need to be more mindful of the actual costs of using AI models. And for autonomous cars, the challenge of navigating complex traffic situations will continue to be a major hurdle.

KEY NUMBERS:

• 18 million: average audience for US opener against Paraguay
• 3.6 million: attendance in the first two weeks of the World Cup
• 1 million: tokens used to measure AI costs
• 4th of July: date of Waymo's autonomous car gridlock in San Francisco