FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

International Coverage - Summer 2024 & 2025

The FIFA World Cup Qualifiers represent the most significant competitive pathway for national teams, carrying both sporting pressure and national identity. For Puerto Rico, the qualification cycle marked a defining period of growth, transition, and renewed ambition, highlighted by the emergence of a new generation of players competing on the international stage.

Across multiple qualifying windows, I documented key moments in Puerto Rico’s World Cup journey—capturing historic milestones, emotional turning points, and the evolving foundation of the national team.

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My Role

I covered Puerto Rico’s FIFA World Cup Qualifiers as an independent football journalist, providing on-site reporting, press conference coverage, and on-field visual storytelling focused on both performance and national narrative.

A central moment of this coverage was the historic return of Jeremy de León, following his signing with Real Madrid Castilla after his move from CD Castellón. After traveling to Madrid to cover his club football, I documented his first appearance back in Puerto Rico wearing the national team jersey during the World Cup Qualifier against Anguilla.

During that match, Puerto Rico recorded a landmark victory, and I captured Jeremy de León’s first international goal following his Real Madrid transfer. I also covered the official post-match press conference, including an interview with Leandro Antonetti, then a CD Lugo player, who would later sign with Sevilla before continuing his career in Portugal’s top division.

This match, played on June 11, 2024, marked the beginning of what became known as #LaBase—the foundation of Puerto Rico’s football rebrand and long-term vision—an era I documented closely through match coverage, interviews, and visual storytelling.

Match Coverage 

  • Puerto Rico vs Anguilla — June 11, 2024
    Covered Jeremy de León’s first World Cup Qualifier in Puerto Rico following his Real Madrid Castilla signing, capturing his opening goal and documenting the emergence of a new core of national team players.
  • Puerto Rico vs Saint Vincent and the Grenadines — June 10, 2025
    Covered the final World Cup Qualifier of the cycle, a hard-fought victory that ultimately fell short of qualification. Post-match coverage focused on player and coaching staff reactions, fan sentiment, and the collective reflection on progress made throughout the campaign.

Impact

This coverage documented both the highs and the realities of international qualification football, capturing moments of national pride as well as the emotional weight of falling short of a World Cup berth.

By focusing on key player milestones, press conference narratives, and fan response, the reporting emphasized the growth of Puerto Rico’s national team beyond results alone. The documentation of #LaBase helped contextualize the qualifiers as the foundation of a longer-term football project, rather than a single outcome-driven campaign.

Through sustained presence at qualifiers and related matches, this work contributed to an ongoing narrative around the evolution of Puerto Rican football—connecting local supporters with a broader vision for the national team’s future.

Jeremy de León Viral Fan Invasion Reel: Instagram

Jeremy de León Creative Promo: Instagram

Jeremy de León First Goal: Instagram

Leandro Antonetti Interview: Instagram

Leandro Antonetti Goal: Instagram

Gerald Díaz Emotional Fan Content: Instagram

Original Score Image: Instagram