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A defender clearing a shot off the goal line doesn’t usually make international headlines. But when 18-year-old Lamine Yamal unleashed a strike that David Alaba had to scrape away at the last possible moment during the Spain vs. Austria World Cup clash at SoFi Stadium, the internet collectively lost its composure.
The moment itself
Yamal, Spain’s teenage phenom making his first World Cup start, had already announced himself on the global stage. Days earlier, he scored his first World Cup goal in Spain’s 4-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia, confirming what European football fans already knew: this kid is special.
Against Austria, he nearly added to his tally. His shot was heading for the back of the net before Alaba, Austria’s captain, threw himself into the ball’s path. For Austria, the moment was about survival. Both teams were fighting for progression to the Round of 16 in Group H, and a Yamal goal could have changed the trajectory of the entire group stage.
The SoFi Stadium factor
It’s worth noting where this match took place. SoFi Stadium in Inglewood hosts the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers and exists in a metropolitan area that has become a hub for crypto and Web3 companies. For crypto exchanges and sportsbooks, a World Cup played partly on American soil represents a unique opportunity to reach both the traditional football audience and the US sports bettor, a demographic that has exploded since the Supreme Court opened the door to legal sports wagering in 2018.
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English (US) · 