World Cup rewind: Spain did what?!

The new coach of the Spanish national football team, Fernando Hierro (L) poses with president of the Spanish football federation Luis Rubiales, as they attend a press conference at Krasnodar Academy on June 13, 2018, ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup football tournament. - Spain today named the federation sporting director Fernando Hierro as its World Cup coach to replace Julen Lopetegui, who was sensationally sacked after his appointment as Real Madrid manager. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP) (Photo credit should read PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images) /

There’s a lot of news to keep track of this World Cup. We’re here to help, starting with a World Cup Eve crazier than any in recent memory.

As far as Days Before The World Cup go, Wednesday was about as eventful as they come. The big news was the the U.S., Mexico and Canada were named hosts for the 2026 World Cup, a banner day for U.S. soccer, etc., etc.

Then Spain made the bold and possibly completely terrible decision to fire their manager, Julen Lopetegui, who himself made the bold and in hindsight definitely completely terrible decision to accept the vacant Real Madrid job mere days before a World Cup.

Spain were among the pre-tournament favorites, with a squad packed with elite central midfield playmaking-types and more than a few key holdovers from the side that won three major tournaments in a row from 2008 to 2012.

How this affects the team is impossible to say. Lopetegui’s replacement, Fernando Hierro, is not, shall we say, an accomplished manager, but he’ll be taking charge of a very experienced group of players who have been playing together for years (and many of whom play for the same clubs).

Then again, THEY FIRED THEIR MANAGER THE DAY BEFORE A WORLD CUP. Sometimes this sort of off-pitch drama galvanizes teams (see: Italy 1982, 2006), sometimes it does the opposite (see: France every other major tournament). Time will tell.

What we can say for certain is that the news did an extremely good job of overshadowing the successful U.S. (and Mexico and Canada) World Cup bid, which, well, . Seriously, though, this is big news.

Next: The best player on every team at the World Cup

The last time the U.S. hosted a World Cup, MLS didn’t exist, someone decided it would be a good idea to let the USMNT where faux-denim jerseys and Diana Ross was still in her prime as a goal-poaching center forward. Time comes for us all.

The real action kicks off on Thursday, as Russia face Saudi Arabia in the tournament opener. Perhaps for the first time in tournament history we can reasonably expect the first day of the World Cup to be less exciting than the one before. Bozhe moi.

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