As the World Cup and a local athlete show, sports have the ability to transform communities.

Katie Rodriguez here, so ready to watch both World Cup quarterfinals today, July 11; where Norway will play England this afternoon and Argentina faces Switzerland this evening.

I’ll admit to you that I’ve been completely swept up in the global camaraderie that comes with soccer, even after the teams I was rooting for—the United States, Mexico and Brazil—were eliminated in the knockout rounds. 

I used to play soccer, so maybe that’s part of the fuel. Or perhaps it's the accessibility of the sport, the fact all you really need is a ball.

Or maybe it’s how the tournament brings to life the people, traditions and culture of the countries whose teams have spent the last four years chasing this moment. (Anyone catch Cabo Verde—an African country of around 500,000—almost defeat Argentina last weekend?)

It’s hard not to find yourself cheering for other countries' up-and-coming players who have made a splash in recent games. 

Yes, I’m talking about Erling Haaland of Norway, whose talent and lovable goofiness transcends the screen and has made him a prominent figure this World Cup. 

In the spirit of the games and the energy it may bring to your weekend, I wanted to share a fun interview my colleague Royvi Hernandez wrote for the most recent issue of the Weekly.

Hernandez spoke with Salinas native Mayra Gomez, an athlete herself, who has studied sports journalism in Mexico, served as an emcee for the Club World Cup and has coordinated World Cup tailgates at the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex while creating opportunities for local kids.

She’s a total badass. In the interview, Gomez talks about how she became involved in various sports groups, community events and the like; and she shares a bit about her upbringing and why she believes sports have the ability to transform lives and communities.

Enjoy the games this weekend, and before kickoff, check out Hernandez’s full interview here.