FIFA World Cup 2026

[whiskybravo]

6 hours ago, Paarslaars said:

Let's make the world happy tonight! 

That map is inaccurate!  The Belgian flag should be covering some percentage of the USA.  

[Gregmal]

Yeahhhhhh, see this is where I enjoy the sporting atmosphere. Go to a bar and have some fun watching the game....who wins? Who TF cares? I feel the same about much of soccer as I do watching our NFL games. Exciting, sure. But way too many people seriously overinvested in the outcome of something where it seems stupid rules and subjectiveness from referees plays way too much of a role in the outcome. Enjoy it for what it is. 

[whiskybravo]

Leave the red card, take the cannoli.

[Gregmal]

I mean is it embarrassing pretending to care about "integrity of the game" as an excuse for deliberately trying to avoid playing the best team a country can field? Growing up playing sports, even into a semi high level, it was always viewed as an integrity thing to desire to play the best players/version of your opponent. Otherwise youre just admitting a lack of character and desire to take shortcuts. No "champion" really wants to have that title knowing they weren't actually the best team. 

[Paarslaars]

12 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

I mean is it embarrassing pretending to care about "integrity of the game" as an excuse for deliberately trying to avoid playing the best team a country can field? Growing up playing sports, even into a semi high level, it was always viewed as an integrity thing to desire to play the best players/version of your opponent. Otherwise youre just admitting a lack of character and desire to take shortcuts. No "champion" really wants to have that title knowing they weren't actually the best team. 

 

Here is the thing, I strongly prefer he plays, would be so much sweeter beating their cheating asses that way.

 

The problem is that only the US gets the exemption here... if that is how you really feel, eliminate the suspended match for all players that got a red card. That is integrity.

[dwy000]

11 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

I mean is it embarrassing pretending to care about "integrity of the game" as an excuse for deliberately trying to avoid playing the best team a country can field? Growing up playing sports, even into a semi high level, it was always viewed as an integrity thing to desire to play the best players/version of your opponent. Otherwise youre just admitting a lack of character and desire to take shortcuts. No "champion" really wants to have that title knowing they weren't actually the best team. 

Thats not the case.  Playing with the integrity of the game means following the rules of the game start to finish. No changing the rules after the fact because you dont like the outcome. 

 

I only follow soccer every 4 years but even i thought the red card was way too harsh (esp given the stuff that went on in the France/Paraguay game).  But like the offside rule, thats the game and the rules were set out out long before the tournament started.  If you start applying "best team regardless" the rules go out the window.

[Gregmal]

6 minutes ago, Paarslaars said:

 

Here is the thing, I strongly prefer he plays, would be so much sweeter beating their cheating asses that way.

 

The problem is that only the US gets the exemption here... if that is how you really feel, eliminate the suspended match for all players that got a red card. That is integrity.

Well, yes, too many dumb rules in the sport...I agree. MLB actually has gotten this perfect with the automated strike zones and replay review. Games shouldn't be determined by whether the ump/ref is an idiot. And it shouldn't be predicated on rules that make no sense. It's a shame how hockey allowed the offsides challenge to basically undermine things as well. Not the obvious ones, but where the play was going on for 3 minutes and out of nothing but desperation the team scored against will challenge hoping to claim something that had zero impact on their ability to defend the play should negate a goal. But thats the state of things today.

 

Here, between seeing 60-70% of goals negated because of rules that encourage laziness, and now the stupid pocket card drama, like ugh, reminds me why the only time I can stand soccer is when my daughters playing. If an erroneous and stupid "card ruling" can affect multiple games...fix it. I kinda hope both the US and Belgium lose.

[Gregmal]

9 minutes ago, dwy000 said:

Thats not the case.  Playing with the integrity of the game means following the rules of the game start to finish. No changing the rules after the fact because you dont like the outcome.

Anyone who's ever played sports will tell you theres nothing but shame involved in actively lobbying to play a weaker opponent. 

[Castanza]

16 minutes ago, dwy000 said:

Thats not the case.  Playing with the integrity of the game means following the rules of the game start to finish. No changing the rules after the fact because you dont like the outcome. 

FIFA made the rule in 2023...Article 27...

 

I agree and dislike the change in the Red. But I acknowledge it was a bad call. Removing the appeal process was a dumb move by FIFA. It would have alleviated all of this nonsense. Anyone being surprised at how corrupt FIFA is is laughable at best. As I said, there have been "no calls" and "calls" in this World Cup that could have and arguable are making big changes to potential outcomes. Messi NOT getting a Red card after review is just as bad as this Red getting overturned. But the outcome of both situations is what? It's the best players staying on the field. What did Batman say? "Look to see who benefits if you want to know who committed the crime." People will of course choose to drag the US because Trump got involved (understandable). But there should be zero doubt that other countries have and do intervene with the FIFA board about similar stuff. The pleading ignorance as if this is the FIRST time corruption has ever occurred in FIFA soccer is laughable. 

[dwy000]

8 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

Anyone who's ever played sports will tell you theres nothing but shame involved in actively lobbying to play a weaker opponent. 

But thats not whats happening. In fact its the opposite with the US actively lobbying to overturn well established rules to give themselves an advantage.  Every team plays by the same rules. 

 

It's a long tournament and the carryover of yellow and red cards is part of it.  Its not the best team for 90 minutes its the best team over a month of games.  

[Gregmal]

LOL ok bud, Belgium isnt lobbying to have this Balogun dude sit out...

[dwy000]

1 minute ago, Gregmal said:

LOL ok bud, Belgium isnt lobbying to have this Balogun dude sit out...

Yes they are.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7424790/2026/07/06/folarin-balogun-red-belgium-explanation/