This post was originally published on Politico.

U.S. fans are making travel plans to the Bay Area after their team clinched first place in Group D following a victory over Australia and Turkey’s defeat to Paraguay.

Ready to welcome them will be San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, who has personally attended five World Cups. He is also an investor in 49ers Enterprises, which purchased the venerable Leeds United soccer team in 2023.

We spoke with Lurie yesterday via FaceTime from a city command center, where he drew a parallel to his English club’s own turnaround this season: Newly promoted and expected to go straight back down, Leeds

Author: By Adam Wren