Central Valley Daily

June 12: Fresno Native Discusses Playing In World Cup For U.S. National Team

By Soreath Hok,

Published June 12, 2026 at 4:45 AM PDT

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A Fresno native is taking the field in Friday’s opening match for the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team at the FIFA World Cup. We hear how Max Arfsten has been preparing for the game and how his upbringing in Fresno influenced his journey.

Plus, the latest news headlines: The Avenal City Council meets in defiance of Kings County; and artificial intelligence is tested in California’s largest courts.

Central Valley Daily

Soreath Hok

Soreath Hok is a multimedia journalist with experience in radio, television and digital production. She is a 2022 National Edward R. Murrow Award winner. At KVPR, she is currently the local host of KVPR's Central Valley Daily podcast.

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Jonathan Linden

Jonathan Linden is a podcast producer at KVPR. Born and raised in Riverside, he's a Southern California native. Jonathan's passion for public radio began at a young age when his brother would play NPR while driving him home from middle school. He earned his B.A. in journalism from Biola University in 2019.

See stories by Jonathan Linden