Funny

This season the UEFA Champions League is bigger than ever before (literally) as a new format will see eight games per club and a total of 36 teams competing. 

American soccer fans know all too well the struggles of trying to watch games in the middle of the day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. We at The18 are fortunate enough to spectate Champions League games, but we know others don’t have that privilege.

The best we can do is provide these seven excuses/hacks to watch the big games while on the clock in the office this season.

United States women’s national team midfielder Sam Coffey needs to be the face of Squishmallow already. The Portland Thorns star shared that she has received a custom gold-medal Squishmallow following the USWNT’s victory in the Summer Games.

Coffey posted to her Instagram story on Wednesday that a family-friend stitched a gold medal onto the popular stuffed toy that comes in a variety of animal, foods and more. Her Squishmallow was a beet and the card said, “Way to ‘beet’ everybody.”

Sam Coffey Squishmallow story

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has signed for Southampton on a four-year contract from Arsenal, both Premier League clubs said on Friday.

The financial details of the transfer were not disclosed, but British media said the deal was worth about $32.95 million.

Aaron Ramsdale Hagrid signing

Yer a Saint, @AaronRamsdale98! pic.twitter.com/yp9OuCI8Ms

David Beckham appeared on the popular show “Hot Ones” to devour wings and provided one of the hottest takes we’ve heard in a while. The Inter Miami owner said that the U.S. will win a World Cup… eventually.

Typically, on the “Hot Ones” show the heat intensifies as the show goes on, but after one wing Beckham said that Lionel Messi’s influence at Inter Miami will inspire a World Cup triumph for the Stars and Stripes.

David Beckham says USMNT will win a World Cup

The United States women’s national team waited 12 years to reclaim gold at the Olympics. Lynn Williams only needed one night to break the sought-after prize.

USWNT veteran forward Williams hilariously broke her gold medal while partying the night of the gold medal triumph. Pictures and stories were shared of Williams swinging her medal above her head before a picture of the ribbon and medal dethatched.

United States women’s national team forward Midge Purce humorously weighed in on Canada Soccer’s drone scandal joking that they needed to “cheat better.”

Canada’s soccer programs are in hot water after the women’s team were discovered spying on New Zealand’s private practices at the Paris Olympics. It’s now been reported that both the men’s and women’s have a history of using drones to spy on opponents.

A player in Brazil just gave away the strangest penalty we’ve ever seen.

Watch: Brazileirão player kicks second ball into opposing player inside the box; gives away last-minute penalty

During the Brazilian Serie A match between clubs Flamengo and Criciúma, the closing moments of the match saw Criciúma give away a penalty in one of the most bizarre plays of the year.

FC Dallas forward Petar Musa had an intense reaction to scoring a go-ahead penalty against Austin FC, immediately celebrating his goal in front of Austin FC’s Julio Cascante.

Watch: Petar Musa celebrates penalty in front of Julio Cascante

FC Dallas had no issues defeating Austin FC at home in MLS’ mid-week Matchday 24, with The Toros strolling to a 4-1 win at Toyota Stadium.

The tone of the game, favoring Dallas, took a turn in the 50th minute when the home side were awarded a penalty for the chance to regain the lead.