The World Cup really starts today — we can show you why

The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Connections: Sports Edition is themed aptly today, by the way. Mike Mulholland / Getty Images A quote from Lions coach Dan Campbell has been ringing in my head all week, about the fragility of good teams in pro sports. It came in January 2024, shortly after the Lions blew a great chance to make the Super Bowl in a NFC title game loss to the 49ers:  “I told those guys this may have been our only shot,” Campbell said. “Do I...