Lydic And Rapinoe Claim America Cares More About Soccer Than Women

Alex Christy
July 22nd, 2026 9:37 AM

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The Daily Show’s host-of-the-week Desi Lydic welcomed former U.S. Women’s National Team soccer player-turned progressive culture warrior Megan Rapinoe to Tuesday’s edition of The Daily Show to help her promote her new podcast, Why Are You Like This? During their conversation Lydic and Rapinoe would smear the country as a bunch of sexists, while Rapinoe would claim that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is her dream guest.

Lydic began by wondering, “So, we, the U.S. just hosted the World Cup. What do you think is harder? Getting Americans to care about soccer or getting Americans to care about women?”

 

 

For Rapinoe, the answer was the former, “We seem super into the World Cup. We nailed that.” That led Lydic to wonder, “When’s the rest going to follow?”

Rapinoe claimed that Americans will care about soccer outside of the context of the World Cup before they care about women, “Yeah, probably soccer.”

As the two bantered back and forth, Lydic responded, “Yeah. Yeah. Okay, so far. So far” and Rapinoe added, “It feels like that's changing, but, you know, slowly?”

Later, Lydic turned to the podcast and asked, “Who’s your dream guest?”

Rapinoe tried to court Mamdani, “Well, I have been on a—look at the camera: Zohran Mamdani, hey girl! I’m here. I’m in New York. You’re doing a great job. We've got the soccer connection. I would love to do it. I feel like he is doing stuff very differently.”

 

 

After citing basketball players Jalen Brunson and A’ja Wilson, Rapinoe added, “Michelle Obama would be great.”

Lydic wrapped things up by thanking Rapinoe, “I appreciate all that you do, all of your advocacy, and I've got to tell you, I like that you're like this. So, thank you for being like this!”

It is ironic, but not necessarily surprising, that Lydic and Rapinoe joke about the country caring more about soccer than women. Soccer is what made Rapinoe famous, but now she spends her time advocating for the erosion of competitive integrity in women’s sports by endorsing letting men who think they are women compete in them, and it is that advocacy that makes her a wanted guest for The Daily Show.

Here is a transcript for the July 21 show:

Comedy Central The Daily Show

7/21/2026

11:25 PM ET

DESI LYDIC: So, we, the U.S. Just hosted the World Cup. What do you think is harder? Getting Americans to care about soccer or getting Americans to care about women?

MEGAN RAPINOE: We seem super into the World Cup.

LYDIC: Yeah. Yeah.

RAPINOE: We nailed that.

LYDIC: When’s the rest going to follow?

RAPINOE: Yeah, hello! Yeah, probably soccer.

LYDIC: Yeah. Yeah. Okay, so far. So far.

RAPINOE: It feels like that's changing, but, you know, slowly?

LYDIC: I sure hope so?

RAPINOE: Yeah, it is.

…

LYDIC: Who’s your dream guest?

RAPINOE: Well, I have been on a—look at the camera: Zohran Mamdani, hey girl! I’m here, I’m in New York. You’re doing a great job.

LYDIC: Make it happen!

RAPINOE: We've got the soccer connection. I would love to do it. I feel like he is doing stuff very differently.

LYDIC: Yes.

RAPINOE: Jalen Brunson over here in New York, that would be interesting.

LYDIC: Yeah. Get a Knick in there.

RAPINOE: A'ja Wilson would be awesome. Michelle Obama would be great.

LYDIC: Yeah. Excellent List.

RAPINOE: You can come on the pod any time you want.

LYDIC: Well, okay, now you mention me, sure! Sure!

RAPINOE: Save the best for last.

LYDIC: After Michelle Obama, okay! I appreciate all that you do, all of your advocacy and I've got to tell you, I like that you're like this. So, thank you for being like this!

RAPINOE: Thank you. Thank you.

 

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