A sudden departure — for the best reason
Artesia boys’ assistant soccer coach Zane Brooks had to cut his time short at last week’s Artesia boys’ soccer camp. And he had a good reason. Brooks, who has been an assistant coach in Artesia for four years, won the ticket lottery for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and had to leave for Dallas on Thursday to begin his trip.
Four months ago, Brooks and his friends entered FIFA’s ticket lottery. When his name was drawn, he purchased seats for the quarterfinals in Kansas City. On Saturday, July 11, he watched Argentina defeat Switzerland 3–1 at Kansas City Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
A chance to see Messi — maybe for the last time
Brooks said he picked Kansas City with one hope in mind: seeing Lionel Messi on the World Cup stage one more time.
“I was hoping Argentina would get to Kansas City,” Brooks said. “I love Messi. He is a humble guy; he is hard to get to, and he goes 100% all the time. This should be his last World Cup. It should be. This is historical that I get to see him play his last World Cup.”
Brooks didn’t hesitate when asked who he’d trust with the final kick of a match.
“If I had to choose between Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi taking the last kick to win the game, I would pick Messi,” Brooks said.
He added that Ronaldo has scored only one knockout‑stage goal in his entire World Cup career.
“To me,” Brooks said, “Messi is a much more clutch player.”
A coach shaped by the game
Brooks played college soccer as a center back at Southwestern College for three years. His junior season ended early when he tore his ACL, and he stepped away from playing to preserve his long‑term health.
Artesia boys’ soccer coach Phillip Jowers later contacted Brooks’ college coach to ask about seniors interested in high school coaching. That connection brought Brooks to Artesia, where he has become a fixture in the program.
Finding home in a small town
Now in his fourth year with the Bulldogs, Brooks said Artesia has become home.
“I love it here,” Brooks said. “I love the support from the community, and it is great living here.”
Brooks said Jowers has transformed the program’s culture and raised expectations across the board.
“Coach Jowers has changed the culture of the soccer program here,” Brooks said. “You do not see many high school soccer stadiums like this. This is second to none.”