The 4v4 World Cup That Built Its Own Hype

The concept was simple and slightly audacious. With the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaching, Brian LaFortune and Marcus Cordon, who runs FUTSOCCER, designed a 4v4 tournament built around the same call-up logic as the real thing. Players signed up to represent countries of their choice, from Brazil to Colombia to the USA, and submitted highlight tapes to secure one of six spots per squad. More than 90 players entered. Current and former professionals, college athletes, and professional futsal players all came through.

The call-up system did something that the highlight tape requirement was only partly responsible for. It gave players a stake in being there. A spot on Argentina's squad meant something. You had to prove you deserved it.

Argentina won, as it turned out.

Having Veo on the sideline

LaFortune had played in enough tournaments himself to know what was usually missing. There was always a moment worth capturing, and no camera to catch it. For this event, he and Cordon made sure that wasn't the case. A Veo Cam 3 was set up to record and stream the day live from Miami, making it the first time the event had been captured and broadcast in real time.

"Players value footage now more than ever," LaFortune says, "especially during the era of social media we're in."

The setup was quick to learn. Within 24 hours of the event ending, players were reposting their highlights. For a first outing, the numbers told a clear story about what players actually want from the events they participate in.

"There's more credibility behind it," LaFortune says of having Veo present. "Players are often excited at the idea of Veo being at not just the event, but any match they play."

That credibility cuts both ways. For the players sharing clips to build a following or attract attention from coaches at a higher level, the footage carries weight precisely because of how it was captured. For the event itself, the stream turned a one-day tournament in Miami into something people who weren't there could still follow.

The next event is already taking shape. LaFortune and Cordon are deciding between a 2v2 format and something more expansive, a multicultural celebration built around freestyle football, food, fashion, and art. Whatever direction they take, the camera will be there.

"We just did what no one has done before," LaFortune says. And then they filmed it.