As the World Cup dominates global sports coverage, NPR's Up First host Ayesha Rascoe has found herself at the center of the excitement, nudged by her colleagues to fully embrace the soccer mania sweeping the nation.
During a recent episode wrapping up the tournament's impact, reporter Becky Sullivan paused her analysis to directly address the host, urging her to join the fandom. "And let yourself get swept up in it, too, Ayesha. You know-" Sullivan laughed, pushing back against any lingering skepticism Rascoe might have about the sport's growing hold on American culture.
While Ayesha Rascoe hasn't fully committed to paint her face in team colors just yet, the playful exchange highlights the infectious energy surrounding the tournament's American footprint. Whether she will be spotted on the sidelines of the next major match remains to be seen, but her newsroom colleagues are clearly determined to not let her sit this cultural moment out.