Jonathan Mak

Football/sports journalist

Formerly of @NYUNews

[Favian Renkel @FavianRenkel]

There were moments growing up when I genuinely believed I just wasn't good enough.

English was my second language, and I failed more English classes than I care to admit. Writing was never something that came naturally to me. If you had told that kid that one day he would become an author, he would have laughed because it seemed impossible.

Today, I am incredibly proud to announce that I have officially become an author.
I wrote two books with Adams Media, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, and they will be released on July 21. They are available for preorder now.

This milestone means so much more than just publishing books. As a proud Latino, representing our community in this space is something I will never take for granted. So many of us grew up watching our parents sacrifice everything to give us opportunities they never had. Their hard work gave us the chance to dream bigger, and this is one of those dreams I never thought would become reality.

For the first time in my career, I truly feel like I made the most of every opportunity that my parents sacrificed for. From struggling in school to seeing my name on the cover of two books, this journey has reminded me that where you start does not define where you can end up.

To everyone who believed in me before I believed in myself, thank you. And to every kid who feels like they're falling behind because school doesn't come easy, don't let that convince you your story is already written.

Preorders are available now, and the books officially release on July 21.

#LAGalaxy #MLS #LAFC

[Jonathan Mak @jonathanmak23]

#mexico fans in Bushwick after Mexico win their first World Cup knockout match since they hosted in ‘86

[Jonathan Mak @jonathanmak23]

Celebrations outside Football Cafe in Bushwick, NYC after Quiñones puts host #mexico 1-0 up against #ecuador

[Jonathan Mak @jonathanmak23]

When #paraguay ‘s Sanabria missed his PK and #germany ‘s Amiri buried his, who else thought Germany would have been inevitable…

Beauty of the sport right here, love knockout football

[Jonathan Mak @jonathanmak23]

Football. Bloody hell…

#worldcup #germany #paraguay

[Carl Anka @Ankaman616]

Germany have lost a penalty shootout in a World Cup. I never thought I'd see the day...

[JD Groh @jd_groh]

Will remember this night for the rest of my life. Messi hat trick at my first ever World Cup game.

Fuji photos from the match coming asap.

[Anthony Lopopolo @sportscaddy]

Millions of photos will be taken at the World Cup, which is as much a festival of colour as it is a tournament. Starting with @Santiago_Arau's shot of the curtain-raiser at the Azteca, here are some of the best. 🧵

[Stephen Quinn @stephenquinntv]

The Red Sox game ended 20 minutes ago but the Scots aren’t ready to leave @fenwaypark tonight. Absolutely electric atmosphere!

@7News @TartanArmyGroup #WorldCup2026 #Scotland

[Jonathan Mak @jonathanmak23]

Also this. Wow, to bury that in the bottom corner first-time…

Was Ivory Coast’s best player during AFCON and showing once again.

[Stretford Paddock @StretfordPaddck]

🚨🇨🇮 Amad is on the bench against Ecuador.

Will he be the super-sub? 👀
#MUFC

[Jonathan Mak @jonathanmak23]

Yasin Ayari just scored against Tunisia and looked like he didn’t want to celebrate the brilliant finish. Turns out one of his parents is Tunisian, immediately reminding me of this great read by Rory Smith. World Cup of Diasporas fr

#WorldCup #Sweden

[Rory Smith @RorySmith]

Think the central irony of this World Cup is that it kind of shows that "countries" are imaginary lines drawn on a map. This is a tournament played out by teams with lots of diaspora players watched in stadiums full of diaspora fans.

https://t.co/Rr0uQFgZFN

[Jonathan Mak @jonathanmak23]

@JoePantorno Congrats Joe, well deserved 👏

[Jonathan Mak @jonathanmak23]

Might as well walk atp…Craig Ferguson will be a trailblazer

[Adam Crafton @AdamCrafton_]

One day from MetLife opener, after months of drama…

-Tens of thousands of transit tickets need to be sold in next 24 hrs
-2 boats & 500 buses on standby if $98 trains can’t go
-Lanes approaching Lincoln tunnel reserved for “FIFA-permitted vehicles”

https://t.co/ClyrApvirz

[Adam Crafton @AdamCrafton_]

One day from MetLife opener, after months of drama…

-Tens of thousands of transit tickets need to be sold in next 24 hrs
-2 boats & 500 buses on standby if $98 trains can’t go
-Lanes approaching Lincoln tunnel reserved for “FIFA-permitted vehicles”

https://t.co/ClyrApvirz

[Ajoje⚽⚖️ @israel_ajoje]

If you knew the back story(ies), you would cry too.

Raúl Jiménez has played at four World Cups. Across Brazil, Russia and Qatar, he never scored a single goal. Today, on home soil at the Estadio Azteca, that finally changed. And the moment broke him.

The tears obviously carried years. In March 2026, just three months ago, Jiménez lost his father Raúl Jiménez Vega to pancreatic cancer at the age of 62. He was a pivotal figure in his son's career. That goal was for him.

And there was more beneath it. In 2020, playing for Wolves against Arsenal, Jiménez fractured his skull in a collision with David Luiz. He lay unconscious on the pitch while teammates and family feared the worst.

It took emergency surgery and eight months to return. He still wears the protective headband today. Many of us thought it was over back then. 6 years later, at 35, Jimenez’s story is still being written.

Just think about it. A near-fatal injury, a grieving son and a 12-year wait for one World Cup goal, finally answered in front of his own people.

This is why we watch football. Not for the trophies. For the human underneath. Don’t you just love it.

My name is Ajoje. I am a FIFA Licensed Agent and International Sports Lawyer. I write on the Law and Business of Football, a lot. Repost and Follow if you want to read more posts like this.

[Blake Aerni @BlakeAerni]

The University of Kansas band learned the Algerian National Anthem to welcome the team before training. 🇩🇿

Absolutely incredible…

[Jonathan Mak @jonathanmak23]

Spent a whole afternoon on https://t.co/9hJFDswM7t, this was the best I got. Not a weak link in there 👀

The pre-tournament excitement is heating up🔥

#WorldCup #FIFAWorldCup

[Jonathan Mak @jonathanmak23]

🚨Correction: They are $2 a pop at Duane Reade 🫢

[Jonathan Mak @jonathanmak23]

Less than a fortnight to the 2026 @FIFAWorldCup and I picked up some @paniniWCUSA packs!

Paid $6 for one pack, $20 as a set of 5 for the rest, these have gotten expensive!

Guesses on how much $ it’ll take to complete the book?

#FIFAWC #WorldCup #FWCNYNJ #FWC

[Jonathan Mak @jonathanmak23]

Less than a fortnight to the 2026 @FIFAWorldCup and I picked up some @paniniWCUSA packs!

Paid $6 for one pack, $20 as a set of 5 for the rest, these have gotten expensive!

Guesses on how much $ it’ll take to complete the book?

#FIFAWC #WorldCup #FWCNYNJ #FWC

[The Soccer Times @nySoccerTimes]

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced an initiative called "neighbourhood passport" taking place in New York during the World Cup. Designed to help New Yorkers and visitors experience the five boroughs via immigrant neighborhoods, cultural institutions, and small businesses.

[Jonathan Mak @jonathanmak23]

Ruvulcaba knocks in the opener from 2 yards out after Cowell and Cavallo have been battling all half down the right wing

Cowell gets the better of his counterpart this time, sending a good ball into Hall, forcing a good save out of Freese

44’ RBNY 1-0 NYCFC

#RBNY #NYCFC #HDR