Soccer Legend Fernando Fiore Gets Real About Messi, Argentina & Miami’s World Cup Hype

Summary

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Stay Tranquilo Podcast: Soccer Legend Fernando Fiore Gets Real About Messi, Argentina & Miami’s World Cup Hype

Date: July 8, 2026
Host: Stay Tranquilo Network
Guest: Fernando Fiore

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Episode Overview

In this special World Cup edition of the Stay Tranquilo podcast, legendary broadcaster and soccer personality Fernando Fiore joins the show to discuss everything from his unique upbringing between Argentina and Uruguay, his winding career in media, the meteoric rise of soccer in Miami, the excitement (and nerves) for his 10th World Cup, and what Messi’s arrival has meant for the city. With humor, heart, and an infectious passion, Fernando shares personal stories, his philosophy on sports broadcasting, and why this World Cup is such a monumental moment for Miami.

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Main Themes

• The Emotional Build-Up to the 2026 World Cup, Especially in Miami
• Fernando Fiore’s Roots: Family, Argentina, and Soccer
• A Non-Traditional Path Into Broadcasting and Sports Journalism
• The “Goal” Tradition and Bringing LatAm Flair to US Soccer Coverage
• The Messi Effect and Miami’s Emergence as a Soccer Capital
• Fiore’s Legacy and Philosophy on Sports Media
• Insights on Soccer Culture, the Power of the World Cup, and Staying Tranquilo Amid Hype

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Key Discussion Points & Memorable Moments

1. The Fever of the 2026 World Cup & Staying Tranquilo

• Fiore can’t stay calm—World Cup fever is overwhelming:
  “So, so I cannot stay tranquilo because we are, we are very much around the corner for the World Cup. It's gonna be my 10th World Cup as a broadcaster. How do you want me to stay tranquilo? It's out of my mind, man.” (01:39)
• Both host and Fiore joke about their excitement, admitting there is “no tranquilo here.”
• Fiore feels honored to be on the show, famously wishing he had a “cafecito and croquetas” to complete the mood. (02:18–02:46)

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2. Childhood in Argentina + Uruguay: Soccer, Family, & Identity

• Growing up split between Argentina and Uruguay:
  • 9 months in Buenos Aires, 3 months every year in Uruguay with his mother’s family.
  • Lived near River Plate stadium—soccer was life.
  • “I was a very happy kid… but across the river… ONLY six, seven hours by boat, I would have my family [in Uruguay].” (05:08)
• Struggles being an Argentine kid before their soccer glory days:
  • Bullied by Uruguayan cousins:
    “Hey, little Argentinian, you never won a World Cup.” (07:01)
  • Club team River Plate also had a long championship drought (until Fiore was 15).
• Irony & Payback:
  “Now I’m doing it, because, of course… Uruguay’s titles were from the time that none of my friends were alive because the last one was in 1950.” (07:51)

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3. Fernando’s Unlikely Path to TV Legend

• Started out with no connections in media, did odd jobs in the US:
  • Worked as a chauffeur, painted fire escapes, tour guide, studied theater in NYC.
  • Only by chance entered Telemundo via a friend’s tip.
    “I came from New Jersey. I auditioned. They didn't give me a lot of hope. They said…eight people in front of me. But I was persistent and…got the job.” (13:01)
• Unique & versatile TV career:
  • Hosted every imaginable style: news, magazine shows, candid camera, game shows, and sports.
  • “The only thing that I haven’t done in my life yet is the weather segment.” (15:19)
• True Lies film cameo:
  • Got cast as a “bad Middle Eastern man” in the smash James Cameron film “True Lies” after casting agents liked his photo. (17:54–18:58)

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4. Soccer Broadcasting Innovation: Humor, Personality, & GOAL

• Distinctive approach to sports coverage:
  • Brought a relaxed, humorous, Latin sensibility to US Spanish-language sports, breaking with buttoned-up tradition.
  • “I was way ahead of my time...Now, I think that we went too much the other way…Everybody’s trying to be funny, even if they’re not funny…” (48:10)
• Origin of his iconic “GOAL” call and vuvuzela tradition:
  • Started screaming “GOAL” on the radio when Inter Miami began.
    “…English guys don’t scream GOAL. I said, I will scream the goal, because Inter Miami fans…are Latino.” (32:44)
  • Brought in vuvuzela sound after each goal, now a cherished Miami tradition. (33:38)
• Memorable goal moments:
  • Inter Miami’s playoff goal (year 1)
  • Cried on-air during Rodrigo De Paul’s goal to clinch Inter Miami’s championship
    “I was on the floor, screaming and crying. That goal at the 96th minute—it sealed the Inter Miami championship.” (38:44)

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5. Culmination: Covering, Witnessing, and Celebrating Glory

• Fiore’s favorite memory as a broadcaster—Qatar 2022:

  • “The final in Lusail Stadium, Qatar—December 18, 2022. I was crying nonstop…finally, 30 years waiting for Argentina to be world champion.”* (21:05–24:53)
  • Watched most matches live, but the final had deep personal significance.
  • Shaved his mustache (a personal promise) after Argentina’s victory.

• Triple Liberation:

  • Argentina’s World Cup, River Plate’s Copa Libertadores, Inter Miami’s championship.
  • “Now I got the King Kong off my back. National team, club, city—it’s a great feeling.” (28:19)

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6. Messi in Miami: A Before & After

• Messi’s arrival changed everything:
  • “Let’s be honest, it’s B.M. and A.M—before Messi and after Messi.” (40:58)
  • Inter Miami struggled to find stars until Messi, Alba, Busquets, and Suarez assembled.
  • The city—and local fandom—have surged like never before.
• Soccer culture roots run deep in Miami:
  • Mentions Miami Fusion, earlier pro clubs, and soccer being “always here”—now mainstream.
  • Finally, stadium is in Miami proper—making matches a central, accessible part of Miami life.
    “Now I live only 8 minutes away from the stadium. So finally all the home games I can go really close…” (44:20)

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7. Philosophy: Why Sports (and Soccer) Matter

• Sports as unity, celebration, perspective:
  “The most difficult thing in life is to be in balance…in everything.” (53:01)

  • Reminds listeners that sports, and especially the World Cup, bring people, cultures, and families together, even in tense times.
  • Laments seriousness in sports coverage; wanted to bring joy and accessibility.

• Fiore’s approach to media:

  • Sought to inform “in a more relaxed way…let sports be an avenue for release.” (52:42)
  • Despite critics and lack of formal acknowledgement from colleagues, he’s proud fans recognize his influence.
    “The people on the street, they always come to me—‘you were the one who started all this back in the late 80s.’” (49:21)

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8. The 2026 World Cup: Anticipation for Miami & the Americas

• Acknowledges less early hype (due to world circumstances, high prices, war):
  “…we have to realize we are the host country that unfortunately are in a war process…difficult to be in a festive mood… But when the World Cup will come, it will be a big fiesta because it's going to be on the streets.” (55:36–56:13)
• Advice for Miamians & visitors:
  • Enjoy Fan Fest, restaurants, and the uniquely global, multicultural mix.
  • “Take vacation days…A couple of days on the beach will hurt no one.” (57:53)
  • “This could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…Enjoy, relax, have a good time.” (57:34)

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9. Odds & Ends: Legacy, Predictions, & The GOAT Debate

• His collection of World Cup memorabilia:
  • Signed balls featuring historic players; proud “Mr. Panini” (Panini sticker collection spokesperson for two decades).
• On Messi vs. Ronaldo:
  “You cannot compare…Messi is in another level…Cristiano Ronaldo was just unlucky to be born at the same time as Messi.” (66:21)
• On World Cup predictions:
  • Now refuses to predict results, out of superstition and love for the magic of the game. (68:12)
• Promotes his social media, new show “After Party,” and continuous love for connecting fans and stories. (69:07–70:36)

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “How do you want me to stay tranquilo? It’s out of my mind, man.” — Fernando Fiore (01:39)
• “The only thing I’m missing is cafecito and croquetas.” — Fernando Fiore (02:22)
• “Now I got the King Kong off my back. National team, club, city—it’s a great feeling.” — Fernando Fiore (28:19)
• “Before Messi and after Messi.” — Fernando Fiore (40:58)
• “The most difficult thing in life is to be in balance…Nothing is like, you are wrong and I’m right…to get the balance, some things…come together.” — Fernando Fiore (53:01)
• “Take vacation days…A couple of days on the beach will hurt no one.” — Fernando Fiore (57:53)
• “Messi is in another level…It doesn’t make justice to compare them.” — Fernando Fiore (66:21)
• “I don’t predict…Walter Mercado is no longer with us. He was the one who used to predict.” — Fernando Fiore (68:12)

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Key Timestamps for Segments

• Fiore Introduces Himself & Early Soccer Fandom (01:11–09:56)
• TV Career Origins & Unconventional Path (10:15–19:20)
• Favorite Moments as a Broadcaster (20:57–27:36)
• Origin of the “Goal” Call & Vuvuzela Tradition (29:01–35:03)
• Messi in Miami, Soccer’s Explosion (38:13–46:25)
• Sports Broadcasting Philosophy & Legacy (48:10–53:01)
• World Cup Hype, Advice for Miami, “Enjoy the Fiesta!” (54:35–57:57)
• On GOAT Debate & World Cup Predictions (65:06–68:45)
• Outro, Promotions, and Closing (69:07–70:48)

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Final Thoughts

Fernando Fiore leaves listeners with wisdom about enjoying the moment, the transformative power of sport, and why Miami is uniquely positioned to make this World Cup a party for all. With warmth, irreverence, and humility, he shows why he’s a beloved figure in soccer culture—and why, for those in Miami especially, now is the time to enjoy, “relax, have a good time,” and stay tranquilo, even when you can’t quite calm your World Cup nerves.

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Transcript

[Fernando Fiore]

So good, so good, so good.

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[Fernando Fiore]

I got an idea that it was completely waco and it was to. After the goal goes.

Oh, my God.

[Podcast Host]

Bueno dias. Good morning, Good afternoon from wherever you are across the globe. Welcome back to another episode of the Stay Tranquilo podcast segment of Cafecito y Croquetas. And today we are joined by. By a soccer legend, Mr. Fernando Fiore. Thank you so much for being here. Obviously, a lot of anticipation around the. The World Cup. Right? And what better person to talk to then. Then you, Fernando, how are you?

[Fernando Fiore]

So, so I cannot stay tranquilo because we are, we are very much around the corner for the World Cup. It's gonna be my 10 World cup as a broadcaster. How do you want me to stay tranquilo? It's out of my mind, man. It's a contradiction. I'm nothing but. I'm nothing but, though.

[Podcast Host]

That's awesome. No, I agree.

[Fernando Fiore]

I agree.

[Podcast Host]

It is hard to stay tranquilo when there is so much hype and anticipation around the World Cup. But you know, when, maybe when your team wins and everything settles in, then we can go back to staying, staying tranquilo. But there is no tranquilo here.

[Fernando Fiore]

No, it's not. It's not tranquilo. It's not tranquilo.

[Podcast Host]

I love it.

[Fernando Fiore]

But I'm glad, I'm glad. And thank you for the invitation to the State Tranquilo.

And I'm honored. I, you know, I have a, you know, a lot of people talking about, about your, your work, so I'm so, I'm so happy to be here. The only thing I'm missing is the Cafecito and the croquetas.

See, but, but, but between, between this

chat, I will probably go and get an alfajor from Argentina that I have in my. In my kitchen.

[Podcast Host]

I love it. I love it, actually. Well, we met, you know, maybe two months FIFA Miami campaign, right? The B. And we had the privilege of having you included in as one of the Bainti S vos. And I remember you recommended a place across from your. From your apartment. And I did go there, by the way. It was delicious. The coffee, oh my God, everything was good.

[Fernando Fiore]

See, las empanadas, they are delicious. Is.

It's called Gusto and it's in Minorca Avenue. In Minorca Avenue, In. In Coral Gables. Really, really close to. To Ponce de Leon. This is really delicious. The empanadas are great. The milanesas are fantastic too, and they

have all kind of sweets.

So, you know, I. I go there very often with my friend Mariano. We talk.

We talk football, we play caras. So it's good.

[Podcast Host]

I love it. That's awesome. Well, Fernando, before we talk World cup, before we get into the anticipation and, you know, the hype around what's coming here, not only in the States, but, you know, Miami specifically, I want to talk about you and your story. Tell me what it was like growing up in Argentina. Right? Obviously, a huge soccer country. We got Leo Messi here now, which we'll definitely talk on that. But tell me what it was like growing up in Argentina.

[Fernando Fiore]

Yeah, well, it was a.

It was a wonderful, wonderful experience of my childhood and my adolescence, because I was really happy. I have a small family in Buenos Aires because my mother, that was Uruguayan, she crossed the river plain, El Rio de la Plata, and she went to live in Buenos Aires. There she met my father, who was Argentinian, and they lived there. And in 1960, I was born the same day of the Independence of Argentina, July 9.

The thing is that my father was

an only child and my whole family from my mother was living in Uruguay.

So I used to live nine months in Argentina, which was beautiful.

All the school season from March to November and then December, January, February, I was going to Uruguay, which we have a beautiful little house by the beach, and my family is there. My cousin was there, the only problem.

So I was very happy. I was a very happy kid.

You know, like I said, only my father and my mom, I didn't have grandparents. So in Argentina I didn't have cousins or uncles or anything. So it was just us.

But across the river, only six, seven

hours by boat, I would have My family. And it was a great experience because, like I said, it was nine months of school in a wonderful city of Buenos Aires. I used to live in a wonderful, beautiful, still today, neighborhood of Bergrano and Palermo, very close from the River Play Stadium.

And then the other three months in

Uruguay, it was beautiful because we have a nice, comfy little house by the beach. And I have a lot of friends from Uruguay.

The only problem that I have, and

this is something that lately the people asking me and I said, no way.

Is when they asking me, well, when Argentina and Uruguay play each other, I

said, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Argentina is on my heart. I love Uruguay. If Uruguay plays with Senegal or Ghana or with, you know, Cabo Verde, it's fine. If it doesn't affect Argentina, I might root for Uruguay. But the problem was that I was born in 1960. So when I was a kid and all the way to 1978, when I turned 18 years old, Argentina didn't win a World cup, didn't win an Olympics in soccer.

So all my cousins, my uncles, my

friends in Uruguay, they were always bullying me, which they weren't bully. It wasn't common those days. Pero me cargavan y me molestavan. Hey, little Argentinian, you never won a World Cup. Hey, you never won an Olympic Games. So it was bad, man.

It was sad. And I was really, really into soccer all my life, and it was difficult.

And on top of that, my club team, River Play, also didn't win a

championship until 1975, when I was 70, when I was 15 years old. So it was also difficult because my father told me how great River Play was.

But the last championship was in 1957, and then we have to wait 17

and a half years.

So all my grammar school, I was

bullied by the kids of the other teams.

So soccer was difficult in the beginning until 1975 and then 1978, and then,

well, the rest is history.

[Podcast Host]

Exactly. Well, now you can play a little bit of bully back, right? Because I didn't know. Now I'm doing it.

[Fernando Fiore]

I'm doing it because, of course, especially because you're the one, because you're Hawaiian's titles. They were from the time that none of my friends were alive because the last one was in 1950. So now you know. Yeah, they were very proud back then. But even back then, all my cousins didn't see him live because all my cousins were my age.

So it.

So you can imagine they now they really cannot touch this.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, I was not gonna ask you the question of who would you choose between Argentina and Uruguay? Because I knew the answer already to that. I already know it was Argentina, and that was an eas. Easy answer.

[Fernando Fiore]

And nothing. Nothing behind.

[Podcast Host]

Exactly. But if, like, to your point, but if Uruguay is playing somebody else that's not Argentina, then maybe you can justify going for Uruguay.

[Fernando Fiore]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

If it's, like I said, if it's in a championship that we are not in, which hopefully we are always in.

[Podcast Host]

Exactly.

[Fernando Fiore]

But. But if it's a. If it's a result that they would

allow Uruguay, you know, to beat, for example, here in Miami, if they can beat Cabo Verde or Saudi Arabia, it's fine with me. I don't want to go for the Saudis or for the Tabonians.

[Podcast Host]

No.

[Fernando Fiore]

I don't know how. I actually have to look at. How do you call the people from Cabo Verde, but especially if it doesn't affect the outcome to go against Argentina.

So actually, to tell you the truth, I don't care much. I. I don't care much if they win or not.

[Podcast Host]

It's all about 100.

[Fernando Fiore]

Because when it goes to the national

team, it's only one for me.

[Podcast Host]

Exactly. Which that's how it should be.

[Fernando Fiore]

Then again.

Then again, I love Uruguay and I love Uruguayan people. Of course.

And I love. And I love the country of my mother and my cousins.

And I'm still going there.

[Podcast Host]

I love it. That's awesome. Now, Uruguay, beautiful place. Argentina, Buenos Aires, that area is beautiful. And as you know, we mentioned, big, big soccer town. Right. And now with your line of work.

[Fernando Fiore]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

It's a full circle moment for you. Absolutely right. But talk to me how you even got into this space. Right. You had kind of a little bit of different jobs in Argentina. Right. Maybe not a full vision that you would be doing this today. So talk to me about that path into getting into the world of soccer.

[Fernando Fiore]

Yeah, well, I'm turning.

I'm turning 66 years old this next July 9th, so I'm going to make a brief and condensed situation of what was like. But I was very fortunate to say a small family. We were having a nice life when I was a kid and I was in university. And then I have to do the. I'm a veteran in Argentina because I have to go to the Air Force for a year. That it was mandatory back then.

And then my family was living.

My cousins and uncles, they were living in Hoboken, New Jersey, for many years. They were. They had a house there. And my mother decided to come and try her Luck. She was a wonderful clothing designer and she was brilliant in what she was doing. And here in the US she couldn't develop her whole craft, but she was making good money living here for a while. And she decided to stay here for a couple of years. And then I decided to join her, come back.

My.

My parents were divorced, so I came to the United States. And it was difficult. I left a lot of friends behind. You know, I was a people's person and, and, you know, and, and, and I had a. You know, I was really happy there, but I thought that the future, it might be here with my family and I want to be an actor, which was very difficult there and much more difficult here. But then I came to US I started to work in different jobs, very odd jobs that, you know, that I didn't think of it. I was a chauffeur. I was painting fire escapes in New York in wintertime. Then I was lucky enough to get into tourism and I was, you know, I went to business school and I went to university and I studied tourism and I studied psychology and I graduated in tourism. So I was a tour guide and a tour planner for eight years. And I was studying theater in New York with Puerto Rican traveling theater. And I was trying to break into communication, but it wasn't easy until by chance, a friend of mine, we were doing a lot of theater plays in university in Montclair State in New Jersey. Montclair State University, now Montclair State College back then. And.

And a friend of mine called me

from here, from Miami and says, hey, listen dude, you always wanted to break into tv. And they are. I have a friend of mine that is a producer in Telemundo and they are looking for a reporter. Why you don't try? She used to go to university with us.

So to make their own story short,

I came from New Jersey. I auditioned. They didn't give me a lot of hope. They said that it was eight people in front of me. But I was persistent and just by chance I got the job. So I started. It really was a very unique situation because usually people start to work on the TV stations or local TV stations or local radio stations and try to climb up.

I started in a brand new network

that was doing waves. It was much smaller than Univision. Back then nobody knew how big an amazing Telemundo will become in a few years.

But I started working in a network

right from the beginning. And I started working in different shows

and in respect to sports, somehow some people, it's a little misconception.

That I always work on sports, which is part true. I love sports and I used to play soccer and I still playing football now with 65 years old every Saturday.

But the thing is that I love communications in general.

And it wasn't like I want to be, you know, a journalist and a sports journalist. So I didn't go to study sports journalism. So my thing was I wanted to be on the. On radio, TV and movies and everything around, but not necessarily sport.

The thing was that my career again

is, I would say 100% unique. And I don't know any other person in front of the cameras in English or Spanish in the US that they have such a diversity. Because usually if you are a sports journalist, you work in sports department all your life because you like sports. Or if you are a news anchor, then you work in the news department all your life. And if you are a talk show host, you do talk shows. And if you are a game show. Well, my career is completely different than every single person that I know in English or Spanish on tv because I did magazine shows, game shows, candid camera shows. I was a news anchor in New York, nevertheless, and I did sports.

So the only thing that I haven't

done in my life yet is the weather segment.

But usually now is better if you are a meteorologist.

So I think I'm already lost that train. I don't think that they're going to be doing the weather segment, but that was the thing.

And I started to do sports in Telemundo because they asked me, hey, do you like sports?

We have to cover super bowl back in 1989. I started to work in 1988 and

he said, you like football? I said, yeah,

The Super bowl in 1989, it was the 49ers against the Cincinnati Bengals. Oh, wow. And. And I started my career also doing sports from that time. And then I switched to Univision for 25 years. Like I say, the first thing I did was a News anchor at 6pm News in New York, which was an amazing job back then and even now. And then I came back to Miami and well, my career went from candid camera shows like Lente Loco, which is an iconic kind of the first candid camera in Spanish, producing the Spanish tv. And then I was lucky enough to combine my two passions because I did a traveling show with nevertheless Sofia Vergara, which was Fuerdiceria. And at the same time I started to work in sports. And well, finally in 1998, I did. I did the. It was my third World cup as a communicator, but it was the first one as a main host. And then the following year we started with Republica Deportiva, another iconic show for 15 years. And since then I'm a president.

[Podcast Host]

What a story.

[Fernando Fiore]

That's the story. And then in between. In between.

I was lucky enough in 1994, during the.

Right before 1993, actually right before the

World cup that someone saw my 8x10, which was the audition back in the 80s and 90s, and they asked me if my family was from Middle East. And I say no, my family is from Italy and Spain. But what's going on? He said, oh, it was a casting agent said no, you can look like a Middle Eastern. Do you want to work in a movie that they are filming next month? And I said, yeah, sure. Do I need to cast?

No, no, they love your picture.

They just. You just try your. They will try clothing and you are in. And I say okay. And what's the movie?

Oh, well, it's just a little movie directed by James Cameron and the main

actors are nevertheless that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curris. So I was lucky enough to work for a month as a bad Middle Eastern man in the movie True Lies.

No way.

And the movie True Lies became the biggest movie on earth at that time. And it was such an iconic movie that still today pretty much nine out of ten people, if you cross in

switching channels, you cross to.

Through life, you stick around for a

while because either either you see that Jimmy Lee Curtis dancing or you see the. Or you see. Or you see Arnold Schwarzenegger, you know,

getting out with a, with a, with a fire, throwing and killing people. It's always entertaining.

[Podcast Host]

Oh my God.

[Fernando Fiore]

And I worked there and I worked there and I were there for a month, so it was great.

[Podcast Host]

Wow. A jack of all trades, right? Like you said, the only thing that's missing is, is being the next weatherman, which I think, I think I could see it.

[Fernando Fiore]

Well, at least for the day. I think that it would be a good, it would be a good promotion

if, if, if a TV network will

say, you know, let's give this guy to complete, to complete his resume and let him do for one day the weather segment in the newscast.

[Podcast Host]

Well, with World cup coming up, we

[Fernando Fiore]

have to promote that. We have to, we have to try to get exactly. Will give me a chance for a day, you know, like, like when they got, they got people that they signed it for one day just to retire as a soccer player. They should do that. I don't want to retire. But hey, I can complete my resume

now and I say that I did absolutely everything.

[Podcast Host]

I can see it with the summer, you know, summertime weather here in Miami. The weather forecast is going to be very important. I mean, better to do it for the World cup than you. I, I see it, I can do it.

[Fernando Fiore]

I'm gonna, I gotta ask Telemundo if you let me do it for one day. And I said, listen, it's. It's hot in all the cities that, that the World cup is hosting.

It's very hot in Miami and Dallas and Los Angeles and Approximo. I can see myself doing that for a day.

[Podcast Host]

I will, I will sign that petition and we're gonna make it happen. I like it. Oh man, that's awesome. Pedal. Obviously you've been doing this now for, for a while, right?

[Fernando Fiore]

And 37 years. 37 years.

[Podcast Host]

37 years, right. And you've, you've covered. This is going to be your 10th World cup, right. You've covered some of the biggest games on stage. What, what's one of your favorite memories, right, Doing this. Right. You look back now at your journey and, and what is it that stands out to you the most?

[Fernando Fiore]

Well, it's is decently recent and it's easy to pick because again, according to

what I was telling you already from

the beginning of the conversation, it happened to me that I have to suffer a lot through soccer until I really get rewarded. And all my career as a communicator, I covered hundreds of Argentinian games and tournaments and I was waiting for more than 30 years to see Argentina world champion. So. And. Or Pop America champion for that matter, which I didn't have the chance. So yeah, finally in, in 2018, 2019, when you know, after, after Russia and I say, oh my God, do I ever gonna be able to see Argentina world champion? And I was trying to doubt myself because I said no Copa America for me. No, no World championship. And then unfortunately I couldn't go to the Copa America and Brazil, that we beat Brazil in the final because it was a Covid time. And so I wasn't pressing there, but I enjoy it. But definitely my moment. It's the final in Lusail Stadium in. In Qatar in 2022. December 18, 2022. I was, I was in that side of the stadium where the penalty kicks were taken. Again, I had to suffer to the very last moment where Montiel stroke the penalty and we won. And, and I will never forget that I was crying non stop. The people around me actually, actually it's funny because I have my press credential. I watch, listen to this. I watch 40 games out of the 64 on the stadiums because everything was so close and it was an amazing World cup that I was able to move from one to another and over the World cup for being sports and, and I was doing reports in English and Spanish to send to us. So I, I was able to go to 40 games and, and that final. A friend of mine, he says, you know what? I have Covid I can go to Qatar, but my brother got my ticket there. Why you don't pick it up and instead of going to the press section which is all the way up, you use my seat and, and you see it closer and I, you know, I, I will always be thankful to, to Mike Monahan from soccer.com because I went, I pick up the ticket and, and it's funny because it was a lot of friends from Telemundo, from the Telemundo sales department that they were around me, that it was that section that he got the ticket and they thought I was going to have a heart attack. Everything was fine until Mbappe tied the game and then the penalties, and the penalties were really close to me and I was crying non stop and so I will never forget that one. And then I stay in the stadium because I have my press credential so I stay inside the stadium and I was pretty much, I would say the last fan that left the stadium. I was waiting and enjoying every single second. And I stayed there. And they start to kick everybody out after hour, you know, two hours. And, and finally I finally I step out and I did my report from outside the Lusail Stadium, the final report of the, of the World cup coverage for being sports. And then I went to celebrate by myself. I went to the market, the famous market in. And I stayed there all night long

until the next morning when I get back to the hotel. When I get back to the hotel,

I fulfill my promise and I shave my mustache. I said I'm going to shave the mustache again. If Argentina was, was champion. So that all the pictures from December 19th until he grew up again the. They were without mustache.

[Podcast Host]

That's incredible. Now that is, you know, the highest.

[Fernando Fiore]

That was the moment degree.

[Podcast Host]

Your, your country wins at the biggest stage, right against, you know, a team in France, right with Mbappe on the other side. Very, very difficult and to your point, right? It's, it's like it's that window of time, right? You've been, you've grown up watching Argentina, your whole life. And it's like, when. When is this gonna happen? Right? Then Mbappe hits that goal late, and you're like, oh, my God, are we gonna. Is this gonna happen again? Right? Are we gonna leave here and not, you know, have a trophy battle to be on the other side and see it happen the way it did? World Cup PKs against Mbappe, a phenomenal French team. It's gotta feel amazing.

[Fernando Fiore]

Yeah.

Because unfortunately, look, in 1978, I didn't. My family didn't have enough money to buy a ticket for the final, so I was able to watch another games.

But the final was difficult. Not only because of the money, because

it was difficult to get a ticket. So I was in Argentina, I was 18 years old, so I didn't have the chance to be on the stadium on the final. And then in 1986, I was even already in the U.S. but my immigration papers were in process and. And the lawyer didn't recommend me to leave the country because everything was going right. And if you go out of the country and your papers are in the immigration offices at this moment, it might get everything back. So I say, okay, so I didn't go. So I watched it with my friends in New York. 86, I was not able to go to the Azteca Stadium. So finally Luce Stadium.

So for me, to tell you the truth, and this is gonna sound strange, but it's.

But I feel it somehow. It's like when you feel so relieved that you get the monkey out of your back. In three fronts. In three fronts. In football, the one from Argentina, it was 2022 when we beat France in my club, when River Plate beat Boca Juniors in the Copa Libertadores in 2018 in Madrid, I was there. Wow. In the stadium at Bernabeu. It was such a joy for my club team.

And then my work on Club of

My City last year, to be able

to broadcast the game of the final,

being there with Inter Miami and won the championship. So now I really feel.

Yeah, you're liberated.

Yeah, you're free.

Yeah. So I'm watching football, of course, with

a lot of nerves and passions and anxiousness and everything else, but it seems difficult to me to get the same level of desperation that I had before. Before all those three. Before all those three games.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, you got.

[Fernando Fiore]

You got them much better now.

[Podcast Host]

The Monkeys is much better now.

[Fernando Fiore]

I got the King Kong.

I got the King Kong in all levels, Club level, national team and my, My city team and, and, and.

And work. So it was.

[Podcast Host]

That's true. That is.

[Fernando Fiore]

That's a great feeling that it has

[Podcast Host]

been a good, what, last eight years now for even, even shorter seven years now, you know, where all three of them were able to get it done. And I do, I do want to touch on, you know, your thoughts on what the, what this current World cup looks like.

[Fernando Fiore]

Right.

[Podcast Host]

And, and what your projections are for Argentina. I want to talk a little bit of Inter Miami as well, but before we do, I have to talk about kind of your. What you're known for in the space, right, the goal, right?

[Fernando Fiore]

Yeah, that's a funny story, man.

[Podcast Host]

Tell me how. Yeah, I know we were talking a little bit offline a little bit, right?

[Fernando Fiore]

It's another unique and funny story because

I was always trying.

See, I was a host all the time and during my career in, in the World Cup I was the main host of the whole broadcasting. So that means that Since World Cup 1998, I was watching every game on studio. I was never able to go to the stadiums because the people from the networks, the executive, they didn't let me go because I was the main host. And I was doing pre game, halftime, post game of every single show, every single game. So they didn't allow me to go to the stadium. So I did in Ida, I went to Korea in 2002, to Germany 2006, to South Africa in 2010, to Brazil 2014, to Russia in 2018, and finally in 2018 they allowed me because I was doing only a nice show.

So the thing is that I always

wanted to be part of the broadcast team that we call the games, but I always wanted to be the color commentator. And we tried in Copa America, 2001 in Colombia.

And maybe you're too young, but people that will listen to this, maybe they

will remember that it was a entertainer, a stand up Dennis Miller that he used to work with. I think he said Saturday Night Live. And yeah, Saturday Night Live he was to work in Saturday Night Live.

And ABC tried him to put him

in the booth with Monday Night Football

and he was joking too much and

he was ahead of the time and it didn't go well. So it didn't go well.

And for me, actually I also think

that I was ahead of my time in 2001 and they gave me a couple of games to be the third wheel in a booth. But I didn't have any more chances until Inter Miami appeared in 2020. For the COVID reason, I was not able to work on TV with CBS in English because there was no people on the stands that I could do the color. So I switched to radio, which I did radio way back in 1998.

And I was in the broadcast team

with Chris Whittingham, Thomas Rongen and myself. So Chris Whittingham, a famous play by play who works now in CBS and Kevola so and so on, he was the play by play. Thomas Rongen was the analysis, ex coach, ex player, and I was the color commentator.

Well, the thing is that to make the long story short, that many of the English speaking play by play guys don't scream goal. I would say none of them. They like to say, they just go with the flow and they finish. And every time I tried to tell some of my friends in the English

market say, why you don't scream goal,

man, you're going to be the only one in English speaking. No, no, no, that's not so they think that it's something that is crazy

from the South Americans or from the. Actually from the rest of the world that we scream goal.

And so Inter Miami start playing and

Chris Whittingham will just do the play by play and they say they score.

And Thomas Rongen, who is doing the

analysis and said, guys, if you don't

mind, I will scream the goal. Because Inter Miami fans, a lot of the people who are listening to the radio, even if it's in English, they are Spanish speaking people and they are Latinos.

Again, very strange. The play by play will go and then the color commentator will scream the goal. And that's what I start to get crazy about it. And the people, you know, for the last six years, or the last, actually the last, the first three years of that broadcast, they were, they were no me for me screaming the goals like crazy for Inter Miami. And, and not only that, every, every, every goal of Inter Miami, I will scream the goal. But then I got an idea that it was completely waco. And it was to after the goal goes, oh my God, I love it. With the original Vovusela from South Africa in 2010.

[Podcast Host]

Oh my God, that's amazing.

[Fernando Fiore]

And then, and then it goes. And then it was a tradition which still today, because three years ago, finally,

see, I love that.

I love the English broadcast, but for me in Spanish is a different feeling.

[Earn In Announcer]

100%.

[Fernando Fiore]

So finally, finally, two years ago, ESPN South Florida got the exclusive rights of Inter Miami for radio. And they have the broadcast team in English and I switched to the broadcast team in Spanish. And with a play by play, which is my brother Leo Vega, they call him the poet of football. And he screams the ball because he's from Uruguay. So he's the play by play that screams the goal. So now I'm only allowed to do the vuvusela.

So man. Well, so I have some, yeah, I have some stories with specific goals, but

the Bubusela is the tradition of Inter Miami. After every single goal by our team, the Bubucella will sound. And now it's funny because at the old stadium in Fort Lauderdale, our booth got a window that you cannot open. But in the new stadium it's an open window. So every time my bubusela sounds, the whole stadium hears that. So it's interesting.

Yeah.

[Earn In Announcer]

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[Podcast Host]

You mentioned you have some stories of some goals that you called. Is there one favorite goal that you've ever called that you've been had the privilege.

[Fernando Fiore]

The one calling myself it was the one that they. That they.

It was the first season of the Inter Miami that. That we were able to go into that format on the books.

They call him playoffs but it was a.

It was a strange season because it was Covid. It was short, it was a pre playoff whatever but. But it was in the last minute and.

And it was. It was good but here I mean much more closer to us now in our time. Even though I didn't call the Ball. But I was so happy and we

were, I was crying and we were hugging and is when Rodrigo de Paul made the third goal against Vancouver in the final last year with Inter Miami. Because I was really nervous. I thought I said, God, please don't let this team tie us, because it was very close to a draw. And then the final goal, it was a Rodrigo Depoli. Was the final. It was the two one or was the final. The final? The third one.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Fernando Fiore]

Yeah.

So that was, that was, that was something else. And, and I, you know, and I really, I was crying like a kid

and during, during the broadcast, you know, and Leo.

And Leo was screaming the goal. And I was, and I was crying and getting my comment and. Yeah, that was, that was a, that was a great goal, by the way.

[Podcast Host]

Absolutely.

[Fernando Fiore]

Yeah, that's the one that I remember.

[Podcast Host]

Absolutely. That's a good one to remember and a good one to be a part of. But it's, it's great to see how much the city of Miami has gravitated to inner Miami. Right. We've, we've, we've talking or spoken about the fact of bringing soccer into Miami and how Miami is such a unique destination for, you know, to be a soccer town. And you bring in a guy like Leo Messi and kind of the rest is history. Right, because one thing is bringing.

[Fernando Fiore]

Yeah, Leo Messi.

But I'm sorry to interrupt you.

Yes.

Because I was, I was sure that it was Rodrigo de Paul was the second goal. It was one. That was Ende was the third one when. Yeah, it was in the 96 minutes. Because I remember I, I remember the Rodrigo de Paul, but the 2 one,

but the 3 one was the one

who I really, you know.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, you could like finally get.

[Fernando Fiore]

So it was, it was the third goal and that's when I started, when I started crying and, and another interesting,

funny story on that is that I

got really a bad cramp on my leg for the nervousness and everything. So I was on the floor, I was on the floor screaming and crying. And that goal at the 96 minutes, it sealed the Inter Miami championship.

That was crazy. Go ahead. I'm sorry I interrupt you, but I didn't want to get a wrong player for the. Of course, a great goal.

[Podcast Host]

No, no, thank you for that. No, just talking about how, you know, how big soccer has gone and down here in Miami.

[LifeLock Announcer]

Right.

[Podcast Host]

You bring inner Miami into the city now the new stadium. Right. That was a talk for a long time when Inter Miami was even just becoming a thought here into the city. Right now, here we are, we finally have it. But it's great to see how the city has rallied around. Even when they were playing up in Fort Lauderdale, right, People were showing up, they go and they win the championship last year, and now we get the new stadium. And then just that, that Leo Messi effect. You bring a guy like Leo Messi into the, into the city, into a soccer town, it's just going to blow up that much more. All right. Talk about how much soccer has grown here in the city. We have so much Latino presence, obviously in the city, so much European presence. So soccer is just a natural fit here.

[Fernando Fiore]

Yes. In terms of

our soccer history in the United States, I suffered a lot back in the 80s when the NASL disappeared. And I'm with the MLS since 1996 when it was created. And also I suffered a lot with the fusion disappearance in 2001 after only three years playing. So for me personally, the rebirth of MLS in Miami. It was amazing when Inter Miami started the season in 2020. But let's be honest, before it's. It's BM and AM, before Messi and after Messi. Because I've been with the team, like I said, and I, and I broadcast all the games in the first season and then again in the fourth

before

Messi was difficult because we didn't have lucky with the stars that we thought that they're gonna make a difference in the first times with the Mexican player Pizarro and then with the French Matridie and then with the Iguain. And then finally everything came together when they signed the coach of Tata Martino and they started to bring all the great players that they give us the greatest moment so far with the Busquets, Alba Suarez. And when Messi came in, it was, yeah, Messi. Messi came in the right time. Then he brought Suade. But everything, everything worked, worked well. We, we were champions right away in the league.

Scott.

I have a great time on that championship too, because we were broadcasting in English at that time and I traveled around the country with, with a, with a team going, going to every game. So it was, it was fabulous. But, but Miami is being, you know, interlocking with, with, with soccer pretty much for many, many years. Because this is not the soccer tradition. Didn't start in Miami with Inter Miami. You know, it was here way, way before Los Gatos, Los Toros back in the, back in the 80s and, and the NASL and then we have the USL, the Miami FC and so on. So it was always soccer here. But Obviously to have the professional team from the Major League soccer, the Division 1, it was a change.

Unfortunately, the same thing happened with the

Fusion, which looks like we stomped with a rock again. We didn't have a stadium in Miami. We have to call them Miami fusion back in 1998 and playing for Loliban. And now we have to call in Inter Miami and play in the same

location, different stadium, but the same location

which was the old local stadium, transform into Drive Pink and Chase Stadium and so on. So finally now, like it or not, and I'm sorry, no, actually I'm not sorry because I did a lot of traveling to Fort Lauderdale. So now it's time for the guys in Broward and beyond to travel here. So now the Inter Miami team has a stadium in Miami and like you said, like you mentioned, is a lot of Latino, a lot of European people that enjoy soccer all their lives and expatriates and people that, you know, that enjoy soccer. And then of course, nothing wrong with it, it's a lot of tourists and a lot of people that they don't follow soccer or football every single day. But hey, it's a good combination to come to Miami, go to the stadium, watch the goat, one of the greatest players of all time and you know, and have a good time, you know, and be. And make it part of your vacation or your traveling. So it's a good combination and I love it. Actually now I live only

eight minutes

away from the stadium. So finally all the home games I can go really close and I don't have to travel all the way to

Commercial Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, which I love for Lauderdale, but with the price of the gas right now I rather.

[Podcast Host]

Eight minute drive.

[Fernando Fiore]

Rather drive here.

[Podcast Host]

Absolutely. No, it makes sense, right? If you're a team in Miami, you got to have the stadium in Miami, right? That's just how it's going to have to work. And yeah, I think you've hit something interesting when you talk about, right, it's a big tourist destination and that's fine, right? You have your, your local crowds that can come in, but all these people that may not be the super soccer fanaticals, right, are now being introduced to the game that maybe we're never going to go to a soccer game and all of a sudden they're like, oh my God, I love this. I want to come back and I want to maybe go to a soccer game in my hometown that maybe also have. So I think it helps just the growth of soccer as a whole, which is also interesting and, and That's.

[Fernando Fiore]

And that's the way I approach my career from the very beginning, when I started to work on. On the sport departments on television and radio. For me, also, I think that I was way ahead of my time. Way ahead. In 1988, because the normal way to present the soccer segments in newscast or on the broadcast, it was treated as the news of the world. And everything was so serious and statistics. And I respect all that because that was the way many people grew up seeing that, you know, giving them the numbers and just the stats and being very serious. Because according to many people, sports or soccer is a religion, which is not. And, you know, and I was approaching this very differently. Like I said, like I mentioned Dennis Miller, and I also was watching a

lot of

English TV and espn. So one of the guys that I really liked, he was crazy and doing many different funny things was Chris Berman, back in the days in the NFL and so on. So for me, that was the approach that I wanted to take into Spanish TV when I was doing the soccer shows or the soccer newscast or the segments or whatever. Like, for example, if I have to cover and bring the news of a Tour de France on bicycling, I was getting into the studio riding a bike, which was unheard of at that time, and the directors and the producers were, you know, were getting crazy and trying to kill me. But I say, you know, I think this is the way it will develop eventually. And, you know, fortunately I was right.

Yeah, fortunately I was right.

I think that now it went a little bit too much. I love. Don't get me wrong, I love. I love the atmosphere of many of the newscast or many of the broadcasts. But sometimes now it's all joking and laughing and too much laughing and try to make too many jokes and being so much funny, even if you are not funny. So I think I went the other way. But like I said in Spanish, I'm proud enough that I think that I lead the way and I open the door for a different approach to the. To the Spanish sports broadcasting. And. And that was back in 1988.

[Podcast Host]

Absolutely.

[Fernando Fiore]

And, well, now it's 37 years later,

37 years later, the same people that back then, I'm not going to name names, but a lot of colleagues that they wanted to crucify me for disrespect,

football and friends of mine that they

really want to crucify me for being such a. Such a crazy dude. Now they're trying to be funny and. And they're not even funny.

[Podcast Host]

You let them know, no you provided a unique angle into the space. Right. And that's what it happens. It needed. It needed to happen.

[Fernando Fiore]

So I don't want to brag. I don't want to brag, but some. Some days I think I don't got the respect that I deserve or the recognition that I deserve for many people because. Because they. They don't want to say, hey, Fernando, you were right, man. I didn't hear one of my colleagues or not even one that would come out one day and say, dude, remember

when I would say that you were crazy and I wouldn't try to crucify you? And you know, you were right.

That's okay. That's okay.

The people on the street is the one that. They always come to me and say, you know what guy you were? You were the one who. Who started all this back in. Back in the late 80s. And I love all my colleagues and I respect them all.

[Podcast Host]

Of course.

[Fernando Fiore]

The only thing is that. The only thing is that back then,

I respect their way of delivering and bringing the whole broadcast.

[Podcast Host]

Right.

[Fernando Fiore]

And seems like, like I said, I was ahead of my time and they didn't get it back then, but thank

God Danielle was there and they let me run my show.

[Podcast Host]

That's awesome.

[Fernando Fiore]

And that's why Republica Deportiva was such

a iconic show that it completely break down barriers. And I'm talking about 1999 when we started it. I did it in the personal level in my shows and my broadcast 10 years earlier, so. And Republica Deportiva was a great concept. You know, of course, sports, bar, people

were giving the news the news. It's like the crazy thing is that

they thought that I, maybe I didn't know my craft and I didn't know sports or I didn't know, dude, I can sit with you. And I got more knowledge than you can imagine. It's just that the way that you deliver and the way you approach. Exactly. I wasn't even going to lie.

It's not like I was giving wrong results. I wouldn't say, hey, lost three two if they actually won three two. So I was given the same result, three two, but looking for what happened

in a more relaxed way. That was the thing.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. I mean, and to force that change. Right. You're gonna have to do things differently. Right. If you. If you follow that same approach that what everybody's doing, how do you create a uniqueness to yourself in a space that is compact? Right. It's competitive, too.

[Fernando Fiore]

I. I need it because I didn't have any friends that would say, listen, Fernando, you are such a handsome guy and you are my friend.

[Earn In Announcer]

And.

[Fernando Fiore]

And I will give you.

And I will give you a job just because, right.

I will have to do something that. That it was unique, that it was real.

And you know what?

Just to close it up, this chapter. When I was in New York and I was the newscast, I was a news anchor. And I saw that the way that the people were giving sports back then, the sports segment, everything was exactly the same delivery as the delivery I was having in the first segment of the newscast when I was talking about the war in the Gulf or anything, or

10 people dying in a Brooklyn fire estate.

Tres Personas Fageron and Brooklyn.

So I was doing that because I

was doing the newscast right then this fourth segment, he was like, last night, the Knicks,

it sounded exactly the same. You know what I mean? And that's when I was thinking. I said, why? The newscast already got the serious and the bad news. If the Knicks beat the Nets, hey, that was a great game. And the Knicks, you won't believe what happened in the very last second. The ball didn't go in, got it in the clank and came back.

And so that was a different. And that's what I wanted to create.

[Podcast Host]

I love that. No, that's awesome. It's the truth, right? It. We're so bogged down by the news every day. Let sports be an avenue for release. Right where I'm not.

[Fernando Fiore]

And that's what happens now. That one happens now. Now, like I said, now I think that we went too much the other way. But hey, it's difficult to be in the balance. See, in everything.

Everything in life.

[Podcast Host]

Exactly.

[Fernando Fiore]

The most difficult thing in life is to be in the balance. Nothing is like, you are wrong and I'm right. I have the truth, I'm correct, and you are completely dumb. No, no. To get the balance, some things that you think it might be valuable, something that I think and come. And this is something that unfortunately we are not having as a nation, as a world nowadays.

[Podcast Host]

Absolutely, absolutely. I think it's something that will always battle, you know, as a society. But sports is. Is one of those things that I do believe brings people together. Right? And with that, you know, I think the World cup comes at a timely time, right. Where there is so much. Right. Hopefully. Right? But I think us as the people, right, we can look at it and realize, like, yeah, we have our differences. Yeah, we have our, you know, our opinions. But at the end of the day, here we are together in one stadium rooting for our teams, rooting for our culture. And you know, here in the Americas, right here in Canada, here in the United States, Mexico, right? All these great destinations as, as a, as a unity, right? And I think that's where the power is in all of this and I think it's great. You know, not only are we hosting it here in Miami, but like we said, all these amazing countries in the Americas. I want to get your perspective on this, right? It's been a while since we've hosted World cup here, Miami being one of the host cities. Talk to me about what, what your expectations are for this World cup compared to other World Cups that maybe you've covered and been to.

[Fernando Fiore]

Well, definitely I will be going for probably around the country to cover this World cup the same way that I did with the club's World cup last year. But here in my city, Miami, I'm originally I went to New York first, but I live in Miami for 30 something years. I think it's going to be a big fiesta every day. I know a lot of people complaining now that there is not a lot of atmosphere that is less than a month and so on. But guys, we have to realize that we are the host country that unfortunately are in a war process. That it was very unfortunate that at the same time that the World cup was approaching, a war with Iran is still going on and the economy with the prices.

So it's difficult to be in a

festive mood when your country and you have a lot of families or friends or people, you know that they are in the army or they don't know when are they going to be called. So you have to get all those things in perspective.

So saying that I think that hopefully

God provides everything will stay put and we will be able to reconcile and finish these differences and finish the work.

But when the World cup will come,

it will be a big fiesta because it's going to be on the streets. We have seven games in Miami. The Fan Fest is going to be wonderful in Bayside. I know that also were some problems and Fan Fest in another cities. But here in Miami, it's been said that it's going to be free and it's going to be a lot of entertainment and people that are not allowed. I know that there are also a lot of people that they will not afford to go into the stadium because of the prices. The prices will come down eventually, I'm pretty sure. And if you are not able to go to the stadium, you will have a great time on the FanFest in Miami, on the streets, on the restaurants, getting together with amigos. Get an acadito, argentino, ceviche or arepas, even if your country's not in a World Cup. And you will have a. And you will have a good time. So I'm sure that it's going to be a very, very good month and a half. Be patient with the traffic.

It's not going to be easy. You have to move around, you will

encounter a lot of traffic. But hey, it's once every four years. And in the case of Miami, it's

once in who knows if it's again in the lifetime. Surely not true. And we didn't have that World cup in 1994.

In our city, the closest was Orlando, Right?

[Podcast Host]

Exactly.

[Fernando Fiore]

So enjoy it, man. Enjoy, relax, have a good time.

Ask for a lot of days off for vacation.

If you have sick days, accumulate those

sick days and calm days and vacation

days and take it.

A couple of days on the beach will hurt no one.

[Podcast Host]

Absolutely. Yeah. To your point, this is. Could be a once in a life, lifetime opportunity for most people, right? Because to your point, God knows when the next World cup will not only be here in the States, but even Miami, right? So Miami, you have to take advantage of this. And like you said, it is going to be a fiesta, right? I know there's a lot of noise surrounding that. And I, I think us as, as fans more than anything, right? You, you hear about the price points, you hear about obviously the, the things going on politically. But at the end of the day, this is our chance to enjoy something that, that, that we're meant to enjoy, right? Root for your country, whether it's Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, usa, right? Globally, right? So we as fans can now have the luxury of being able to enjoy it. And one of my favorite things about the World cup, right, is getting together comis amigos that might be friends of our fans of other teams, right?

[Earn In Announcer]

They're.

[Podcast Host]

They're the Colombia fans and they're the Venezuela fans and they're the Argentina fans, right? I'm born usa, grandparents are Cuban. So for me it's always been difficult as to who do I root for, right? Because. I love it.

[Fernando Fiore]

I miss Cuban friends. Let me tell you something.

I went to Cuba with Cosmos, with the Cosmos team, back in 2014 with Pele, and

it was a friendly mission

authorized by the government. So we went. I was the host of many of the events over there, and I was surprised because I was walking around Lavana and in a lot of places, and the one that really surprised me the most you're going to be laughing at this. One of the parks in central Havana, they have the same park with Coppelia. I forgot the name of the park right now, but the same part of the famous Copelia in Havana.

And it was this place, a little

place where the people that take care of the flowers and the trees, all the gardeners, they put their ramientas, all the things they need for taking care of the park.

And I was walking around and I saw that the door was open and I saw a huge poster of Cristiano Ronaldo. And I said, man.

And this was 2015.

I said, what? I said, oh, say Cinco Agar. No. Jul Real. Barcelona.

Well, this is something that I haven't seen in my previous trip to Cuba and that it was, you know, really something interesting. Wow.

[Nordstrom Rack Announcer]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

So.

[Fernando Fiore]

And that was 11 years ago.

[Podcast Host]

I love that.

[Fernando Fiore]

So by now I'm sure I haven't returned to the island, but. But I'm sure that now is. Is even more than. Than what it was back then.

[Podcast Host]

That's awesome.

[Fernando Fiore]

And if it's an indication, hopefully we can go back. Hopefully we can go back with no restrictions. Like I say, I went in a family matter once and I went in a friendly, government approved the second situation. But I would like to go without having to ask permission to go to that beautiful country and enjoy with the beautiful people over the Cuban.

[Podcast Host]

Absolutely.

[Fernando Fiore]

People that I love.

[Podcast Host]

So hopefully, hopefully sooner rather than later go soon.

[Fernando Fiore]

Yeah, yeah, but peacefully, please. Peacefully. Make it. Make it peacefully. Make it a transition. It will be peaceful. And 100. And no more wars.

[Podcast Host]

Absolutely. No. Agreed. That, that, that is the perfect scenario. But yeah, for me, I. I am excited for the World cup to, to be here. I know a lot of people are excited. There's games pretty much at every hour of the day, which, you know. Oh, yeah, that span of, you know, a couple weeks.

[Fernando Fiore]

104 games, man, four games, 48 teams,

[Podcast Host]

football on at every, at every time. You're going to your local, you know, your local bar, you're hanging out with your friends at La Casa, watching the game. So I'm, I'm excited and I think the most of the city and everybody's gonna rally around. Amazing experience. Better.

[Fernando Fiore]

Before we wrap up, I have the ball ready. I love the ball ready.

[Podcast Host]

I love it.

[Fernando Fiore]

This is one.

This is one of. This is a piece of. This is a piece of art. This is one of my 10 soccer balls that they've been signed by people, players, only players, presidents or referees that they participate in a world Cup.

[Podcast Host]

Wow.

[Fernando Fiore]

So, for example, you have here.

Wow.

Right here.

[Podcast Host]

That's amazing.

[Fernando Fiore]

You have Gary Lineker from. From England. You have Richard Stoicov from Bulgaria. You have People de Rama. Oh, I was with. I was with People de Rama last week. We were doing a campaign for Hard Rock bet, and he signed Figo from Portugal, Falcao from Brazil.

[Podcast Host]

Wow.

[Fernando Fiore]

Rio Ferdinand from England, and Buruchaga from Argentina, the one who scored the. The famous third goal in 1986.

So.

Oh, Ramona.

Oh.

From Argentina. And I. Spot of the Scaloni Descaloni Technical Group of Argentina. So. This is gonna be great. I hope that the people enjoy. I hope that everything will be calm. And all those black clouds that they're hanging for a while, and all the predictions of who knows what could happen, hopefully won't come up, and it won't materialize, and it will be a peaceful event that we all be proud, and the prices will go down and the

transportation will be free, and the fan

fest will be fabulous.

[State Farm Announcer]

Exactly.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. I know. Brightline is a partner now with the World cup here in Miami, so you're able to take the bright line. They have shuttles to the stadium. So. So the city's doing its part to make this a. An incredible audience. Right. And. Exactly. More affordable, more accessible for everybody. Right. In a variety of different ways, whether going to the game, watch parties, etc. But I have to ask you one last question before we wrap up here. I think I know the answer, obviously,

[Fernando Fiore]

but if it's my prediction. No, no. If it's my prediction. You are. You don't.

You don't know the answer.

Go ahead. Go with the question.

[Podcast Host]

Well, now, I don't know. Maybe you're predicting the. I'll ask you two questions, then.

[Fernando Fiore]

No, no, no, no, no, no. You say one.

[Podcast Host]

Okay. Who's the goat, Messi or Ronaldo?

[Fernando Fiore]

Oh, no, man, that was easy.

[Podcast Host]

I know.

[Fernando Fiore]

I thought that it was gonna be about the World Cup.

[Podcast Host]

I know. That's why I figured you were gonna. So I had to change.

[Fernando Fiore]

No, no, no. I. Listen, I hate to compare things. And. And I don't say that because one

is the greatest, Messi, and the other one is a great player, Cristiano Ronaldo. You know how to compare them.

And actually, you cannot compare.

Is completely different.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Fernando Fiore]

Type of players. Cristiano Ronaldo is a great scorer and a striker, and you cannot. You cannot compare that with the magic that Messi has been doing for the last 15, 20 years. Messi is in another level. And. And I think that Cristiano Ronaldo is a great player, but it's, you know, it doesn't make justice to compare them.

[Podcast Host]

Right.

[Fernando Fiore]

It's just that Cristiano Ronaldo was very unlucky to born in the same time that Messi was born.

[State Farm Announcer]

So,

[Fernando Fiore]

yeah, that's, that's the situation. Messi scores goals, make the people score goals. He is magic every time he touches the ball. That's not happened with Cristiano Ronaldo. It's a different kind of player. Absolutely. And that's what I. I don't compare them.

I'll give you the second question. Go ahead, give me the second question.

[Podcast Host]

Who do you got winning the World Cup? If, if, if, if it's not maybe Argentina, who. Who can it be?

[Fernando Fiore]

That's it. No, no, no. I don't want to give you any prediction. You know why? Because every single World cup before Qatar, I was always going, yeah, Argentina and Argentina is going to be. And I hope that all the planets will be aligned because, for example, in 2006, the final was in July 9th. It was my birthday. It was the Argentina independence. So everything was aligned to have the time of my life in Germany with Argentina champions. My birthday, and everything was gonna go

great, and we didn't.

So in 2021, they start to ask me, oh, I like to prediction. Who do you think is winner win in Qatar?

I said, no idea, man. I have no idea. I'm not gonna say anything. In Argentina, we call them mufa, we call them kabala. We call them. I say, I have no idea who's gonna win. You know, it was a famous. He was a famous astrologer for many, many years in Spanish and English, also Walter Mercado, that he was giving the horoscope every day and said, listen, unfortunately, rest in peace. Walter Mercado is no longer with us. He was the one who used to predict the things I don't predict.

[Podcast Host]

That's fair.

[Fernando Fiore]

And Argentina was champion in 2022. So from that point on, since 2021,

I don't make any predictions.

[Podcast Host]

I respect that. I respect that.

[Fernando Fiore]

And it's difficult for me now because. Because, because now I'm a. I'm one of the. I'm one of the spokesperson for Hard Rock Bed. So I can do my best without telling anyone.

[Podcast Host]

I think, I think. I think we may know, but we won't. We won't have to say it to keep the superstition.

[Fernando Fiore]

No, no, I don't. I don't go now. I don't.

[Podcast Host]

That's awesome. That's awesome. Well, Fernando, unplaced. Thank you so much for taking the time to sharing your story. Thank you. Bringing the energy as you always do. We're very excited for the World cup and excited to see you continue to be an influence in the soccer community, not only here in Miami, but globally. Right. Thank you so much for. For taking the time.

[Fernando Fiore]

Please.

Thank you. Thank you for the invitation. You can. You can also follow me on Instagram Fiori official with only one F and on and all the. On all the social media. And we have a streaming also that it goes live now. It's called After Party and it goes every Thursday at 8:00pm but also we have Republica Football, which is the streaming that I have for almost a year. And, and you can find us under Republica Football. And I have over 60 interviews with. With great soccer players from the past and, and, and nice stories. And now we start this week, we start another. Another revamp of the stories with the sponsorship of ikea. So it's a great time for us to be part of all this. And of course, we didn't talk about

it, but I can show you.

I've been the spokesperson in Spanish for over 20 years of the most famous and most desirable item during the World Cup. Panini.

[Podcast Host]

Panini. Yes, that's right. Yes.

[Fernando Fiore]

This is my Panini card.

[Podcast Host]

That's amazing.

[Fernando Fiore]

I've been. I've been the spokesperson of Panini for. Since. Since Colombia, 2001, Copa America.

That's.

There you go.

[Podcast Host]

That's incredible.

[Fernando Fiore]

I'm Mr. Panini during all these years. And look at the ones that I have right here. This is wonderful too.

Wow.

[Podcast Host]

Yes. We. We can do a whole episode just on. Just on that. We really.

[Fernando Fiore]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

[Podcast Host]

I love that. That's awesome.

[Fernando Fiore]

Okay, thank you very much, my friend. That was.

That was a wonderful time.

[Podcast Host]

Absolutely. We'll see you soon.

[Fernando Fiore]

So good.

[Earn In Announcer]

So good.

[Fernando Fiore]

So good.

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[Fernando Fiore]

Oh, no.

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