Places Everyone: A Pop Culture Quiz International Infused Weekend Preview
With added swag and robots
We are now Sportquizzing internationally on Instagram. Follow @sportsquizintl for mini quizzes, polls, fun facts, bants, and what our Brazilian intern calls “comunidade”.
Saturday, July 12th, 2025,
Lights, Camera, SportsQuizInternational Action!
Many apologies for the tardiness of this week’s post but I fell asleep last night watching my favorite, tortured robot, Demerzel, in the splendid Season 3 premiere of Foundation on Apple TV.
I’m big into robots. Always have been. So let’s pause for my favorite music video.
The truth is we have another sensational weekend of sports upon us, starting in just a few hours with the Wimbledon Finals. But the Season 3 premiere of Foundation reminds me of what our colleagues at PCQI (Pop Culture Quiz International) - still in development, largely because their offices are based on Ibiza - know only too well. That the popular culture Gods - fickle, chaotic, gender fluid, are truly smiling down upon us this weekend. And largely to distract us from watching too much sport. Or getting the weekend preview up in time.
To begin: Justin Bieber, Canada’s most durable export behind maple syrup and politeness, just yesterday released his first album in over four years. The title? Swag. That’s it. Swag. Not just a word, a lifestyle. And apparently it’s pretty darn good.
But that’s not all. Because also soaring into our lives, cape flapping across our AMC Theatre screen— is James Gunn’s Superman. A cinematic event promising action, justice, and the radical hope that, this time, just maybe, Superman won’t spend two and a half hours brooding like he’s waiting for a text back from Lois Lane.
And finally, America’s answer to Shakespeare in swimwear… Love Island USA is barreling toward its dramatic finale this Sunday. Yes, their Martini shot. The ultimate moment where someone says “I came here for love” while wearing an outfit made entirely of mesh. We are living through history, people. And it’s wearing self-tanner.
However, the team at PCQI left me a whatsapp at 2am Central European Summer Time to give us a more international perspective - First up: There’s Wara, a Senegalese drama available on MHz Choice , a series so compelling, so beautifully constructed, it’ll have you Googling “How to move to Dakar” before the first episode ends. And for the spy-thriller obsessives among us: Yosi, the Regretful Spy, an Argentine-Uruguayan series on Prime Video. It’s got espionage. It’s got moral ambiguity. What more could you want? Lastly: Black Sands, an Icelandic crime drama on Viaplay, promising to be equal parts moody landscape and brooding detective work.
I for one, am most looking forward to Black Sands. Gives me a chance to listen to more Björk in mental preparation. And contemplate robots and the impending inevitable Robot Wars.
So whether you’re Team Bieber, Team Clark Kent, or Team “I only watch geopolitical dramas in Nordic languages,” there is something this weekend for everyone. Oh, and there’s sports. Set’s get into that.
And remember… most of this will be on Le Quiz.
Wimbledon Finals
July 12- July 13 | Wimbledon, England
ESPN, ABC (US), BBC, TNT (UK), RDS, TSN (CAN)
Amanda. Kay. Victoria. Anisimova. Get to know her. Learn the name. Etch it into your strawberries and cream—because the pride of Freehold Township, New Jersey outhit and stunned Aryna Sabalenka in the semis and booked her ticket to the Wimbledon Final.
At just 23 years old, Anisimova becomes the first American woman to reach the hallowed Centre Court final since Serena Williams in 2016, a year when Serena beat Angelique Kerber and looked, frankly, untouchable.
Now, it’s Amanda’s turn to walk that same path—armed with a laser backhand and a healthy dose of New Jersey edge, but also a certain sophistication that goes deep under the surface. Centre Court, meet your newest American heroine not named Coco, Jessica or Emma. She’s always had it in her and I for one will be cheering her on.
She’ll face off against another Wimbledon Finals first timer in Iga Świątek in the first time the two have played each other on the WTA tour. The five time Grand Slam champion in Swiatek has yet to win a major on grass, but this year has been playing exceptionally well on it, given she finaled at Bad Homburg and has only dropped one set in six matches at Wimbledon this year.
Wimbledon: the crown jewel of the tennis calendar. And this weekend’s finals? A shining example of why it remains the tennis event to watch—regardless of your forehand literacy. Someone should let Hugh Grant know that, however. The star of Love Actually was spotted in the Royal Box this week, apparently dozing off somewhere around Love–15. Yes, Love–15. Not even at deuce. Somewhere between polite applause and cucumber sandwich digestion, Britain’s resident rom-com ambassador momentarily exited consciousness. Many tennis fans would do anything to watch Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon, let alone in the Royal Box, but for the star of Notting Hill, he was Nodding Still.
FIFA Club World Cup Final
July 13 | East Rutherford, NJ
DAZN (EVERYWHERE)
To the annoyance of any fan of any other club other than PSG and Chelsea, either PSG or Chelsea fans will be claiming the title of best club team in the world - “earf”, the planet, the solar system, the milky way, the known universe, the simulation - after Sunday’s Final at the epicenter of that known universe - East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Paris Saint-Germain steamrolled Inter Milan 5-0 in this year’s UEFA Champions League Final. Then, in their march to Sunday’s Club World Cup Final, PSG ran right over Real Madrid with a commanding 4-0 victory.
Chelsea meanwhile won the far lesser UEFA Conference League Final smashing Real Betis back in May in Poland but qualified for this tournament by winning the UEFA Champions League back in 2021. Critics have complained that they reached the Club World Cup Final by not beating anyone good. But that seems a little harsh through my blue-tinged monoculars - you can only beat who you play, and Fluminense, the Brazilian team who they outclassed in the semi finals had already knocked out the aforementioned Inter Milan. And Benfica, who they conquered in the last 16 had already beaten Bayern Munich. And Chelsea also beat the team who beat the team who beat Man City.
The truth is, whatever you think about the competition or Chelsea’s draw it is hard not to admire the quality of football they are playing under their Italian manager, Enzo Maresca. Cole Palmer seems reborn, Caicedo and Fernandez look like one of the strongest central midfield pairings in the world and Joao Pedro, in his grand total of 96 minutes for Chelsea since arriving ten days ago, has been a revelation.
What can’t be understated, or avoided, is the financial aspect of how these two giants got here. Since 2022, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea have collectively dropped considerably more than, a staggering, two billion dollars on transfer fees.
But now? The noise around lavish spending has quieted somewhat, partly because others have been spending as much, almost as much or more. And also, because the majority of the spending seems to be paying off with results on the pitch, in the books and in the market value of the players they signed. And both teams are winning.
FINA World Aquatics Championships
July 11 – August 3 | Singapore
NBC, Peacock, Team USA TV (US), CBC (CAN), Globo/SporTV (BRAZIL)
Almost 2,500 athletes from just about every corner of the globe are heading to Singapore this weekend, ready to make waves, literally, in 77 medal events. It’s the largest global gathering for water sports outside the Olympics, which basically means it’s like the aquatic Olympics, but with fewer sponsors and way more splashing.
Australia’s Ariarne Titmus has decided to sit this one out, leaving the pool wide open. Enter Canada’s Summer McIntosh, a three-time gold medalist fresh off the 2024 Paris Olympics, ready to make a splash against none other than Katie Ledecky. Ledecky, one of the most decorated swimmers ever, with nine Olympic golds and 21 world championships, is the queen of the 800m, having claimed gold in that event for four straight Olympics. The upcoming showdown in the 800m promises to be a clash of generations, grit, and legendary stroke power.
Here at SQI, we’re arguably just as excited to meet this year’s mascot ambassador for the World Aquatics Championships - Dewey the Dugong. Now, dugongs aren’t just cute sea cows; they’re a special breed of fully aquatic, herbivorous mammals native to Singapore’s coastal waters. The only ones of their kind on Earth, no less. But these gentle giants are endangered, which is why the tournament organizers created Dewey - to spotlight the urgent need to protect wildlife in Southeast Asian waters. Behold, Dewey: the most fashionable water cow on the planet.
Tour De France
July 12-July 29 | France
Peacock, NBC (US), ITV4 (UK), FRANCE TV, MAX (FRA)
Stages 8 and 9 of the 21-stage grind are happening this weekend, as riders pedal furiously through the northwest corner of France, inching closer to the halfway point of this colossal race. By the time they cross the finish line, these warriors of the road will have conquered roughly 2,075 miles - that’s the equivalent of cycling straight from our humble SQI headquarters in New York City all the way to Phoenix. Luckily, we have no plans to bike to Phoenix. But if any Phoenixians (Phoenicians?) want to bike to our NY HQ seeking refuge from those triple-digit temperatures, our door is wide open. Suite 601, exit right out of the elevators and take a left at the carpet stain.
UEFA Women’s Euros (Group Stage)
July 12 | Switzerland (Various Locations)
FOX (US), Disney+, ESPN (MEX), BBC, ITV (UK)
More than half a million tickets sold for the Women’s Euros in Switzerland this month—and as teams close out the Group Stage this weekend, the record-breaking turnout shows one thing loud and clear: women’s soccer isn’t just growing, it’s exploding onto the global stage.
The Women’s Euros haven’t just drawn record crowds, they’ve attracted quite the royal fan club, too. Prince William made the trip to Zurich to cheer on England, proving once and for all that football fever is truly a family affair. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands was pitchside, rallying for the Dutch, because, of course, we all knew the Netherlands had a monarchy tucked somewhere between their tulips and windmills. And then there’s King Philippe of Belgium, who bravely braved the rain to watch his team take on World Cup champions Spain.
Spain, England, France, Sweden, Germany and Norway all remain favorites to advance out of the group stage.
MLB All-Star Celebrity Softball Game
July 12 | Atlanta, GA, USA
FOX (US), MLB.com (EVERYWHERE ELSE)
Sure, Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby and All-Star Game will take center stage Monday and Tuesday next week, but let’s not sleep on the real party -Saturday’s Celebrity Softball Game in Atlanta. Because who doesn’t love celebrities?
With a star-studded lineup that’s part all-star roster, part A-list Hollywood casting call, you can expect big names, big laughs, and probably some big misses. Jermaine Dupri, Quavo from Migos, Kandi Burrus from Real Housewives of Atlanta, and Ronnie DeVoe from Bel Biv DeVoe, yeah, it makes total sense to recruit the hometown heroes when the Celebrity Softball Game rolls into Atlanta.
But they’re not just bringing the ATL flavor: throw in Terrell Owens, CC Sabathia, and Jordan Chiles, and you’ve got a lineup that’s guaranteed to entertain.
Now for some of the more questionable choices. The Capital One Venture guy. What’s his name? I certainly do not know, but neither does Major League Baseball. Their promotion of the event simply lists him as the “Capital One Venture guy.” What’s in his wallet? Apparently not any identification.
Monaco Diamond League
July 11 | Monaco
FloTrack, FloSports App, Wanda Diamond League YouTube and Facebook channels (EVERYWHERE)
At first glance, the lineup for the latest meet on the Track and Field calendar looked a little light on star wattage. You could almost hear the collective shrug from fans. That was until Noah Lyles, who hasn’t raced professionally since last year’s Olympics, dropped the bombshell: he’s a last-minute entry for this weekend’s Diamond League event in Monaco.
The American and highest-profile male sprinter in the sport, Lyles, will be lining up in the 200m this weekend against Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo. You’ll remember Tebogo from the Paris Olympics, where he pulled off the upset and beat Lyles in the 200m—leaving Lyles with a bit of bruised pride and a very public reality check, especially given his braggadocious claims about being the best in the world.
Now, with the stakes higher than ever, this race isn’t just about speed - t’s about redemption, reputation, and a whole lot of swagger on the line.
Which really should be the title of Bieber’s next album.
See you back for Le Quiz on Sunday and make sure to share this post with your internationally enthusiastic sports friends who you want to join our comunidade. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram.
I remain,
Davo
Commissioner, Sports Quiz International