#22: Why Sports Fandom is Good for Us | Leander Schaerlaeckens & Dr. Daniel Wann

Every four years, Americans suddenly remember soccer exists. The World Cup is here and it may be the single biggest sporting event in human history: 48 teams, 104 games over 39 days, and a final that draws north of a billion viewers.

Host Michael Easter sits down with two guests to make the case. First, soccer writer Leander Schaerlaeckens, author of The Long Game, on why this World Cup is bigger than ever. He also shares his take on if the USMNT can actually make a deep run, the players you need to know, and why America took so long to get good at the world's game. Then psychologist Dr. Daniel Wann, who has studied sports fans for 40 years, explains why caring about sports is one of the most underrated things you can do for your mental health.

The World Cup and fandom might be exactly what a lonely, divided country (and world) needs right now.

Two Percent is hosted by Michael Easter. Today’s episode was produced by Joey Fischground, Robbie Hiser, Dana Brawer and Julia Nutter. From Kaleidoscope, our executive producers are Mangesh Hattikudur and Kate Osborn and Julia Nutter. From iHeart, our executive producers are Katrina Norvell and Nikki Ettore. Our Head of Video is Maria Paz Mendez Hodes. This episode was edited by Will Mayo. Our theme music is by the Heater Manager.

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Chapters:
00:00 — Cold open
01:39 — Why 2026 is the biggest World Cup ever
03:55 — The case for Team USA
06:49 — Team USA's real odds (and avoiding Argentina)
07:44 — Why America took so long to get good at soccer
10:36 — The players you need to know
14:38 — Pay-to-play & Ricardo Pepi's backstory
16:34 — How to fix U.S. soccer (Texas vs. Spain)
19:24 — Which U.S. athletes would've been great at soccer
21:09 — Who to root for ("bench Ronaldo")
25:21 — From 1950 dishwashers to 2026: how programs rebuild
27:09 — Prediction: who wins it all
28:09 — Dr. Daniel Wann: the psychology of fandom
33:34 — The four psychological needs fandom meets
38:41 — "Watch football while I eat ice cream"
42:09 — Do the connections have to be in person?
45:08 — Why sport is unlike any other fandom
47:42 — Collective effervescence & the Miracle on Ice
51:37 — Why sports are the great unifier
53:50 — Are stadiums secretly public health?
1:00:17 — Can you overdo it?
1:02:07 — How to become a fan
1:04:35 — Wrap

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