Beyond the World Game
Lucas Capozzi-Shanks, owner of Scenes NY — ‘THE WORLD'S LARGEST SOCCER SHOP’ Creative Director & soccer curator
Within your work or craft, what are you most excited about now?
The whole world discovering the rich soccer culture that has existed in the United States for decades, against all odds.
Which NY neighbourhood do you call home?
I live in Brooklyn now because "old" but I lived in the Lower East Side for longer than I've lived anywhere else in my life.
How long you've lived in NY?
18 years.
Favorite thing about NY?
Every day this city eats you up and spits you back out and shows you who you are.
Best coffee in NY?
An iced coffee, any time of year, doesn't matter if it's from a deli or one of the $6 spots.
Best pizza in NY?
Paulie Gee's square pepperoni slice.
Favourite NY legend or icon?
Killa Cam.
Soccer player or fan or both?
Both, for better and worse.
Favourite place to play and or watch soccer in NY?
7v7 at Cherry Street or pickup/training at Pier 40.
Who are you cheering for in the World Cup?
This time last year I was in Las Vegas and put $100 on Brazil because we had just designed our SS26 range which is all Brazil colors, so Brazil. But unfortunately I'm also a USMNT apologist.
Who do you think will win it?
Can't see anybody beating France.
Who's got the best kit this World Cup?
Whoever ultimately wins it.
Based purely on aesthetics, who's your soccer icon?
Jesa Chiro, founder & designer of Coco Cultr.
Please describe who you are, where you are from & what you do...
Hiii I am Jesa Chiro I am from Seattle and I am the founder and designer of Coco Cultr. Coco Cultr is a clothing brand which is best known for upcycling jerseys into dresses, tops and skirts. I love the idea of taking something that is a typical masculine silhouette, and reimagining it for the feminine.
Within your work or craft, what are you most excited about now?
It's been so rewarding and exciting to see people connect with the silhouettes and pieces I design and sew. This World Cup has been especially exciting and I’ve loved working with all of the different kits, colors, and team identities. Seeing people get genuinely excited to wear sportswear that feels feminine, unique, and handmade has been the most fulfilling part.
How long you've lived in NY?
4 years <33
Favorite thing about NY?
The people. I feel really grateful to live here and have the most amazing friends, family and community minutes away.
Best coffee in NY?
I don't drink coffee.
Best pizza in NY?
The pizza place is down the street from my house. Never a line, always hits and they've been playing the games which have been fun too.
Favourite NY legend or icon?
My personal NY legend is Mimi Gross. Born and raised artist in New York, started Ruckus Manhattan alongside Red Grooms. She is so talented and inspiring.
Soccer player or fan or both?
I want to claim both... But truly I'm a fan.
Favourite place to play and or watch soccer in NY?
The sports bar across the street from my house. I keep it local.
Who are you cheering for in the World Cup?
Now that there are only 2 teams I'm going for Spain <3
Who do you think will win it?
Spain.
Who's got the best kit this World Cup?
Loving the black U.S.A. jersey with the stars. I have a Coco Cultr version that's been my fav.
Based purely on aesthetics, who's your soccer icon?
Just based on style and aesthetics it would have to be Mario Balotelli.
Robbie Laing, Founder of Full Kit
Please describe who you are, where you are from & what you do...
My name is Robbie Laing, I was born in Canada, but grew up in Racine, WI. I run a project called Full Kit that creates high quality, vintage-inspired football product, primarily for musicians. (Yes I realize how hyper niche it is)
Within your work or craft, what are you most excited about now?
Two things as of late: (1) Materials - I love exploring how old football shirts were constructed and what materials they used for performance back in the day. Most of those materials you wouldn't dare wear to play in today, but they make for something unique in your closet. Manufacturing in sportswear has become so optimized today, that I feel like we lose a lot of the variety that once existed. I aspire to bring some of the craft and variety back. (2) Exploring Old Magazines - From an art direction perspective, every time I open an old soccer magazine, I find inspiration for graphics, typefaces, illustrations. I feel like the same IG moodboard fodder is recycled over and over, so looking at something analog remains incredibly refreshing.
Which NY neighbourhood do you call home?
Greenpoint.
How long you've lived in NY?
Approaching 10 years in August since I first moved here, and 9 years uninterrupted.
Favorite thing about NY?
Walking out your door and having access to anything you could ever want.
Best coffee in NY?
My favorite called Upright closed down this past year, but I've been frequenting Odd Fox before catching the G train when I have to head into the city.
Best pizza in NY?
Lucia on Canal is my go to when I'm in the city and need a quick slice or two. Their vodka grandma pepperoni and their caramelle piccanti are my favorites.
Favourite NY legend or icon?
Probably Billy Jones - The communities and spaces he fostered were truly aspirational, and they still live on today.
Soccer player or fan or both?
Both - player for nearly my whole life and Tottenham fan for just as long. My dad imparted that on me early.
Favourite place to play and or watch soccer in NY?
Love watching at Flannery's - the Tottenham pub - or at my studio 38 Meadow.
Who are you cheering for in the World Cup?
Canada and England.
Who do you think will win it?
I thought it was going to be Germany or France, but we all know how that's gone. I think Spain is the better team, but feels like it's going to be Messi's once again.
Who's got the best kit this World Cup?
I loved Germany's home kit, very classic. Sweden's home kits also up there. Japan's training range was excellent. Uruguay's away kit is beautiful - even though I wouldn't rock it myself.
Based purely on aesthetics, who's your soccer icon?
Benoit Assou-Ekotto - less about his style, more about his vibe. Mad respect for admitting that football was just a job to him.
Henry Rosenberg, artist with a World Cup show currently up at Happier Grocery gallery
Please describe who you are, where you are from & what you do...
I am Henry, I’m from New York and I'm a visual artist. My work is rooted in drawing but that manifests into different outcomes like prints and paintings too. I’m mainly concerned with storytelling and how stories are told, retold, and exaggerated and how that shapes our behaviors as characters. In a lot of my work I use humor and exaggeration to highlight aspects of narratives that I find relevant and compelling.
Within your work or craft, what are you most excited about now?
Well, after finishing graduate school in Printmaking, my studio mate Claire, who's a great painter, inspired me to try oil painting. It's been about a year since I started using oil and this show at A365 Gallery is my debut painting exhibition. I prefer to be in a beginners mindset most of the time, so approaching a big body of oil paintings was really new and playful.
Which NY neighbourhood do you call home?
The East Village.
How long you've lived in NY?
Forever besides undergrad and graduate school in Italy and Philadelphia.
Favorite thing about NY?
I’d say the variety of cultures that coexist here and the magic/collective culture that creates. Also the pace of it, the hustle mentality.
Best coffee in NY?
I like Abraco in the East Village but I’ll honestly drink anything. I love a massive coffee from wherever is convenient. Black always by the way.
Best pizza in NY?
I believe the best slice will find you and appear itself in the moment you need it most.
Favourite NY legend or icon?
He’s not a traditional New York icon, but the artist Ben Shahn is my pick. His life and work embody so much of what makes New York special. Its immigrant history, creative culture, and social engagement.
Soccer player or fan or both?
Kinda both! Soccer was the first sport I played as a little kid but now I play casually on Sundays with a club called “soccer and croissants”. I go for my friends and stay for the croissants. I heavily follow and watch AS Roma. I've been a fan since I was 13.
Favourite place to play and or watch soccer in NY?
If it’s a really important match I just watch at home with friends to really focus and experience it.
Who are you cheering for in the World Cup?
Really hard question. I want different teams to win for different reasons. But overall maybe Spain. I like an underdog though, I’m for sure going to be rooting for Haiti and Scotland as well.
Who do you think will win it?
Spain.
Who's got the best kit this World Cup?
Swiss away kit, South Korea away kit, or Norway both kits. Most of the away kits are great.
Based purely on aesthetics, who's your soccer icon?
Mario Balotelli or a young Francesco Totti.
Tancredi Bareti, owner of Balera restaurant
Please describe who you are, where you are from & what you do...
My name is Tancredi Bareti. I was born in Rimini, Italy but grew up in New York City, where I part own and run Balera, an Italian Pizzeria Ristorante, in Williamsburg.
Within your work or craft, what are you most excited about now?
Globalization has made people more knowledgable about food and given people the need to explore. More unique ideas and cuisines from around the world have never been as accessible.
Which NY neighbourhood do you call home?
I grew up in the East Village and have now lived in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn for the last ten years.
How long you've lived in NY?
My parents moved here when I was a born. Lived briefly in Italy and Miami until returning to NYC.
Favorite thing about NY?
The people. The food. The fact that I can travel around the world and experience different cultures by just hanging out around the five boroughs.
Best coffee in NY?
Smor Bakery, 787 Coffee and my little moka at home.
Best pizza in NY?
Balera without a doubt! Impasto for a quick Italian slice.
Favourite NY legend or icon?
Anthony Bourdain, the greek coffee cup, and there’s something about looking at the skyline that always makes me feel like I belong.
Soccer player or fan or both?
I play as much as possible and also follow my team religiously, Internazionale Milano.
Favourite place to play and or watch soccer in NY?
I love to play at Bushwick Inlet Park on the waterfront. McCarren Park and Pier 5 as well. Banter and Iona are my two favorite bars to watch, helps that they have a great Guinness.
Who were you cheering for in the World Cup?
The USA and Norway, because of the way they played and beat Italy in qualifying.
Who do you think will win it?
Argentina or Spain?? Spain.
Who's got the best kit this World Cup?
Japan and Mexico’s kits were beautiful. Loved the Germany retro callback with the big font and old Adidas logo.
Based purely on aesthetics, who's your soccer icon?
Roberto Baggio, anybody who could make a pony tail like that ‘in fashion’ deserves respect.
