The Crew has officially started a two-month World Cup break, during which a pair of players will represent the black and gold on soccer's biggest stage.

Why it matters: The international showcase of the world's best players is an opportunity for the Crew to raise its global profile.

State of play: We're nearly two weeks from the June 11 opening match of the men's World Cup, and players from across the globe are joining their national teams to prepare in outposts across North America.

• Most European leagues wrapped up their annual schedules last weekend, and MLS is paused until mid-July.

🇺🇸 Driving the news: The Crew's Max Arfsten was named to the 26-man U.S. squad officially unveiled in New York City yesterday.

💭 What they're saying: Arfsten called his trip to the World Cup "my ultimate dream come true" in a news release.

• "I think playing for your country is the pinnacle of a player's career, and I'm excited and motivated to keep going."

Stunning stat: Arfsten becomes the first Crew player to represent the U.S. at the World Cup since the legendary Brian McBride in 2002.

🇨🇻 Plus: The Crew's Steven Moreira, 2024 MLS Defender of the Year, will represent Cape Verde.

• He was born in Noisy-le-Grand, France, to parents who left the small West African nation when they were young.
• He views his national team affiliation as giving back to parents who "sacrificed everything" to start a new life in France.

🌎 Zoom out: Crew fans will see some other familiar faces at the tournament, too.

• Some countries' rosters are still pending, but expect to see former Columbus players like Sebastian Berhalter, Miloš Degenek, Derrick Etienne Jr., Eloy Room and maybe Jacen Russell-Rowe.
• All-time Crew fan favorite Cucho Hernández, who left for Spain in part to make this World Cup, finally received a call from Colombia.

Back in Columbus, one of the most successful executives in MLS history is returning to the Crew.

The latest: In a surprise announcement, the Crew recently announced former president Tim Bezbatchenko is coming back.

• He'll be Haslam Sports Group's "president of global soccer," overseeing the Crew and HSG's upcoming NWSL team.

Flashback: Bezbatchenko was Crew president from 2019 to 2024, overseeing the building of a downtown stadium, the renovation of Historic Crew Stadium and two MLS Cup wins.

• He had previously been GM of Toronto FC during that team's most successful era, including its 2017 MLS Cup.
• He left Columbus for a huge job — president of Black Knight Football Club, which operates four global soccer teams including Bournemouth in the English Premier League.

What they're saying: Bezbatchenko is a central Ohio native — he was born in Westerville and played youth soccer in Ohio — and the local ties helped bring him back home.

• "It's the perfect time for my family to return home, especially knowing firsthand [HSG's] long-term investment in and commitment to advancing soccer in central Ohio and across the country," he said in a release.

Between the lines: Luring Bezbatchenko back is a massive coup for HSG.

• Not only is he an Ohio native, he's one of the most successful executives in MLS history, one who grew with the league (he started his career at MLS HQ in New York) and Columbus (a day-one appointee after HSG bought the team in 2019).

👀 The intrigue: "President of global soccer" is an interesting title in an ownership group with two Columbus teams, especially for an executive who just returned from leading an operation with teams in England, France, New Zealand and Portugal.

• The team's release described his duties as overseeing "HSG's future investments in domestic and global soccer."

🤔 Multi-club ownership is the model many global soccer investment groups are following, and it appears to be the future — is HSG next?

🗳️ Several top Democratic candidates in the midterms are airing scathing ads linking their Republican foes to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, including in Ohio's hotly contested Senate race. (Axios)

🚗 Here's one way to cut costs as car prices surge: bid on an impounded vehicle at an upcoming police auction. (Dispatch)

🎙️ Used Kids Records owner Greg Hall recently purchased Musicol, the long-running recording studio and vinyl pressing plant in North Linden. (Matter News)

🤖 Denison University will open the King Center for Data and Innovation this fall to house its new artificial intelligence programs. (Columbus Business First 🔒)

👋 Alissa here. As our unofficial "weird food" reporter and an unapologetically Midwestern ranch enthusiast, I wasted no time in trying Pierogi Mountain's latest creation.

Catch up quick: The popular Polish-inspired restaurant got its start inside the campus bar Cafe Bourbon Street a decade ago.

• It moved to its current downtown location in 2020, a few years after getting Guy Fieri's endorsement.
• Pierogi are $2.25 each a la carte (or $1.50 on Tuesdays) and flavors rotate, always going well beyond your basic cheese and potato.

Yes, but: This Cookie-Monster-blue one is definitely turning heads, with a cool ranch flavor inspired by Doritos. It's available till August.

Luckily, if you can get past the strange color, the filling is tangy and delicious.

• In case you were wondering — yes, inside is a normal potato-y color.

😋 I recommend tasting the entire rainbow: tomatillo chile verde (green), sweet potato and coconut curry (orange) and three-cheese pizza (red).

Stop by: 105 N. Grant Ave. 11am-10:30pm Saturday-Thursday, 11am-12:30am Friday. Menu.

🌎 We're Eating Around the World: Polish pierogi are just one of many dishes we've tried. Check out the others we've mapped so far.