FIFA World Cup 2026

[dwy000]

1 minute ago, Castanza said:

 

The Argentinian President doesn't have to call. Messi's clout and influence on marketing, sales, and viewership speak for itself. People need to stop acting like sports have any integrity at all anymore....There is no integrity when billions of dollars are involved and all hinge on viewership/merch sales and ticket sales. Take a look at the sellout landscape of College Football (American version). Integrity, tradition, sportsmanship, have been dead for a long time. That's why there is such growth in Non-League Football. 

 

 

I completely agree with that.  Which is why FIFA probably would have acted unilaterally anyways.  They need the viewers in the US. 

[james22]

 

[RichardGibbons]

53 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

Who knows? That doesn’t change the fact that any competitor whom doesn’t actually want to be the best by beating the best others have to offer is a lesser person/team.

 

Yeah, I feel like USA is being super cowardly by not lobbying FIFA to allow Belgium to have 20 players on the field versus the USA's 11. Why don't they want to play against best others have to offer?

[Castanza]

5 minutes ago, james22 said:

 

 

LOL eat your heart out Team Integrity 

[Castanza]

2 minutes ago, RichardGibbons said:

 

Yeah, I feel like USA is being super cowardly by not lobbying FIFA to allow Belgium to have 20 players on the field versus the USA's 11. Why don't they want to play against best others have to offer?

 

High quality gotcha @Gregmal 

[Gregmal]

1 minute ago, Castanza said:

 

High quality gotcha @Gregmal 

LMFAO I had to read it three times and then second guessed myself for thinking English was not his first language since the context made zero sense...

[RichardGibbons]

5 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

LMFAO I had to read it three times and then second guessed myself for thinking English was not his first language since the context made zero sense...

Yeah, it deliberately makes zero sense--it's meta reasoning. Basically, if you can call people cowardly using a really silly argument for not following the rules, then I kind of think everyone should get to play that game!

[dwy000]

12 minutes ago, Castanza said:

 

LOL eat your heart out Team Integrity 

It says the FA reached out to him to see if they'd support the time change.  He said no. 

[Parsad]

12 hours ago, moatrep said:

At first sight this goal may look simple, or overshadowed by more flashy strikes. One of the best I have seen, together with the strike from Cabo Verde in the same match. I cannot stop rewatching it. This is why everyone things he is from another planet.

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/TyifPnxiKXQ?si=0FUXdhBafCdfCuSn

 

Also goes to show a tactical victory, this goal attacks the only space that Cabo Verde was leaving unguarded. Just a bit of space at the end that can only be profited with a long pass and milimetric precision. The Cabo verde defense of 6 players draw to Spain and Uruguay, and was undetead until this match.

 

He also keeps his head down enough so the keeper has no idea he is going to chip the ball over him.  Then again, we are arguably talking about the greatest player in history...so we should not be surprised to see something like this.  

 

I'm sorry you guys did not get to see Canada at its best if Alphonso Davies played.  I still think this Davies' goal is one of the greatest I've ever seen...make sure you watch the slow-motion replay after the goal to see exactly how brilliant it was:

 

 

He never gives up on the play even like 20 yards away...Canada needed the goal to continue for FIFA qualifications...he scored both our goals that night.  Beats the defender, picks the short side past the goalie.  The touch and recognition to save the ball is what still amazes me...he turned absolutely nothing into the goal Canada needed!  Cheers!

[Parsad]

Oh my God!  Do you guys all have to fucking ruin every thread?  This was a nice thread on the World Cup and how everyone was enjoying it...globally...sport that the whole world was enjoying...rich/poor...everyone!  

 

Then about 3 pages back this suddenly started to turn political again.  Can you guys all for once just leave something good as is?  Can we leave the politics out of this regardless of what politicians may or may not be doing?  

 

Cheers!

[Sweet]

4 minutes ago, Parsad said:

Oh my God!  Do you guys all have to fucking ruin every thread?  This was a nice thread on the World Cup and how everyone was enjoying it...globally...sport that the whole world was enjoying...rich/poor...everyone!  

 

Then about 3 pages back this suddenly started to turn political again.  Can you guys all for once just leave something good as is?  Can we leave the politics out of this regardless of what politicians may or may not be doing?  

 

Cheers!

I’m afraid the usual suspect injected politics into it again. 

[Parsad]

Just now, Sweet said:

I’m afraid the usual suspect injected politics into it again. 

 

Perhaps so, but everyone willingly and eagerly participated as well.  Self-awareness for everyone is what is lacking.  If everyone keeps it in the back of their mind...the less likely they will post about politics outside of the Politics thread.  Cheers! 

[Castanza]

Just now, Parsad said:

 

Perhaps so, but everyone willingly and eagerly participated as well.  Self-awareness for everyone is what is lacking.  If everyone keeps it in the back of their mind...the less likely they will post about politics outside of the Politics thread.  Cheers! 

 

I mean the red card is political no? Not really off topic because it's a big deal for the USA vs Belgium game. I feel like the discussion still revolved around football and the FIFA rules. I mean it's hard to ignore Trump inserting himself into the World Cup. 

 

Anyways it's final. Belgium appeal has been rejected by FIFA so I think most can agree on here that it shouldn't have been a Red Card, the FIFA rules allowed the change, but it was unprecedent and Trump definitely influenced the change which most would say is a negative. 

 

Checking out till gametime! Good luck Belgium fans hope it's an entertaining match. 

[Parsad]

1 minute ago, Castanza said:

 

I mean the red card is political no? Not really off topic because it's a big deal for the USA vs Belgium game. I feel like the discussion still revolved around football and the FIFA rules. I mean it's hard to ignore Trump inserting himself into the World Cup. 

 

Anyways it's final. Belgium appeal has been rejected by FIFA so I think most can agree on here that it shouldn't have been a Red Card, the FIFA rules allowed the change, but it was unprecedent and Trump definitely influenced the change which most would say is a negative. 

 

Checking out till gametime! Good luck Belgium fans hope it's an entertaining match. 

 

This isn't helping.  It's done.  Leave it...enjoy the game. 

 

While you guys are babbling here about this, you are missing a beautiful game between Portugal and Spain!  Cheers!

[Gregmal]

44 minutes ago, RichardGibbons said:

Yeah, it deliberately makes zero sense--it's meta reasoning. Basically, if you can call people cowardly using a really silly argument for not following the rules, then I kind of think everyone should get to play that game!

I dont take it you've ever played sports then. Any sort of competitor should wish to beat their opponent on the field, at their best. Not whining about keeping people off the field or using technicalities to prevent competition.

 

The rulings are the rulings, cuts both ways. The entire game of soccer is rife with inconsistencies, phonies/divas/actors, dumb rules, and sketchy behind the scenes behavior. The athletes and teams themselves should just be concerned with showing up and leaving it all out on the field. 

[Sweet]

1 hour ago, Gregmal said:

I dont take it you've ever played sports then. Any sort of competitor should wish to beat their opponent on the field, at their best. Not whining about keeping people off the field or using technicalities to prevent competition.

 

The rulings are the rulings, cuts both ways. The entire game of soccer is rife with inconsistencies, phonies/divas/actors, dumb rules, and sketchy behind the scenes behavior. The athletes and teams themselves should just be concerned with showing up and leaving it all out on the field. 

Dunno Greg.  I know loads of sports guys that don’t give a crap about beating their best opponent, and want any little advantage they can get so they can win.  I can also tell you don’t watch much football, because the ease at which football players regularly fall over looking for a free kick, or a penalty, for even the lightest of touches, is embarrassing, and is a direct counter to the point you are making.  
 

Edited 4 hours ago by Sweet

[Castanza]

 

End of an Era! Not a great finish as the team didn’t mesh well, but one Hell of a career. Respect 

[raveslayer]

we can evaluate the technical aspects of the regulations, but discussing the spirit of the decision is a different matter... what happened came across as opportunistic and unfortunate

 

in my humble football experience, in the long run things like this end up working against the team that benefited from the situation

Edited 3 hours ago by raveslayer

[Gregmal]

1 hour ago, Sweet said:

Dunno Greg.  I know loads of sports guys that don’t give a crap about beating their best opponent, and want any little advantage they can get so they can win.  I can also tell you don’t watch much football, because the ease at which football players regularly fall over looking for a free kick, or a penalty, for even the lightest of touches, is embarrassing, and is a direct counter to the point you are making.  
 

Yes, I watch soccer at best, 2-3 times during a World Cup or Olympics type big event. Otherwise can’t stand it and think it’s for extremely well conditioned sissies

Edited 2 hours ago by Gregmal

[Paarslaars]

 

Ready for it!

[Parsad]

26 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

Yes, I watch soccer at best, 2-3 times during a World Cup or Olympics type big event. Otherwise can’t stand it and think it’s for extremely well conditioned sissies

 

There are those that dive and perform like most sports, but I'm guessing you haven't played much soccer or at a high level.  We won the Provincial Championship twice as 14 and 15 year olds and I also tried out for one of the best clubs at the time...many players on that club eventually played at the college and national level.  I wasn't as good as some of my friends who played at that level.  I can tell you for a fact they aren't sissies.  And back then, like you saw with the Canadian player a couple of weeks ago, if you were a top level player...they often did try and hurt you or break your leg.  

 

The diving started with the Italians and Brazilians...fucking divas because they won so many championships historically.  But then it became habit and part of the game everywhere over time.  They still are trying to hurt the top players, but diving is no different now than the push off fouls in the NBA, jersey pull flops by NFL receivers, or dives by a handful of NHL players.  Any advantage they can get!  

 

I didn't play a ton of hockey, but I will tell you that hockey players are the toughest athletes.  My 11 year old nephew, in the "no-contact" under 13 club he plays with, has been hit hard into the boards, corners, open ice, etc.  He even lost a tooth on one hit...at 11 years old!  You jump to the under 15 category, which allows hitting, and they are throwing around the weight like major-junior players.  And when these kids get hurt, they want to be on the next shift!  Cheers! 

[RichardGibbons]

3 hours ago, Gregmal said:

I dont take it you've ever played sports then. Any sort of competitor should wish to beat their opponent on the field, at their best. Not whining about keeping people off the field or using technicalities to prevent competition.

 

I take it you've never played competitive sports then. In competitive sports, pretty well everyone both wants and takes any competitive advantage that they have. That's why the things you are saying are silly, because they're so obviously incorrect, and pretty well everyone who even watches sports knows it.

[Gregmal]

29 minutes ago, RichardGibbons said:

 

I take it you've never played competitive sports then. In competitive sports, pretty well everyone both wants and takes any competitive advantage that they have. That's why the things you are saying are silly, because they're so obviously incorrect, and pretty well everyone who even watches sports knows it.

Lmfao ok you’re clearly either off or trolling cuz this is like the third thing you’ve posted this afternoon that’s that out there. 
 

Ok so to follow up as the above is a bit lacking of a reasonable response in the event you just don’t understood and aren’t trolling, there’s a huge difference between high level athletes seeking ways to gain advantages, such as watching film to decipher plays, watching for pitches being tipped or even putting non banned substances on their sticks, bats, hands, etc…hell even grimy stuff like in the NFL lineman biting or eye gouging…it’s all widely seen as folks trying to gain an edge, but it’s 180 degrees different than actively lobbying to remove players from the game so you don’t have to compete as hard.
 

High level athletes embrace the competition, they don’t generally(clearly there’s exceptions) hide from it. But it’s easy to see how one not familiar(I guess as you said, just a watcher) wouldn’t know how this is any different.

Edited 1 hour ago by Gregmal

[Gregmal]

20 minutes ago, Parsad said:

 

There are those that dive and perform like most sports, but I'm guessing you haven't played much soccer or at a high level.  We won the Provincial Championship twice as 14 and 15 year olds and I also tried out for one of the best clubs at the time...many players on that club eventually played at the college and national level.  I wasn't as good as some of my friends who played at that level.  I can tell you for a fact they aren't sissies.  And back then, like you saw with the Canadian player a couple of weeks ago, if you were a top level player...they often did try and hurt you or break your leg.  

 

The diving started with the Italians and Brazilians...fucking divas because they won so many championships historically.  But then it became habit and part of the game everywhere over time.  They still are trying to hurt the top players, but diving is no different now than the push off fouls in the NBA, jersey pull flops by NFL receivers, or dives by a handful of NHL players.  Any advantage they can get!  

 

I didn't play a ton of hockey, but I will tell you that hockey players are the toughest athletes.  My 11 year old nephew, in the "no-contact" under 13 club he plays with, has been hit hard into the boards, corners, open ice, etc.  He even lost a tooth on one hit...at 11 years old!  You jump to the under 15 category, which allows hitting, and they are throwing around the weight like major-junior players.  And when these kids get hurt, they want to be on the next shift!  Cheers! 

There’s definitely varying degrees of it in everything. But agree 100% the level of toughness with hockey and probably even football is way higher. Broken bones, knocked out teeth, concussions, no problemo. Until recently at least. 
 

Never really had any interest in soccer, and still don’t. It’s like boxing. Great social watch event. But no credibility at the organizational level and a bunch of scheming and shenanigans that often overrun the games. 
 

Baseball now, is way different than when I was in college and what they’ve done is effectively eliminate all the whiny player bullshit by bringing in challenges with video replay and now even balls and strikes. There is no more this nonsense of “blame the refs(umps)”. Contrast that to the NFL where it’s ref ball and every hold or PI is subjective. Ruins it. College is a bit better cuz the kids definitely care more and you have 15 yard limits on PI calls but the auto first down is still dumb.

Hockey is basically a band of brothers a the apex of teamwork. Everyone gives it all. You sacrifice so much from a young age playing. Going to practices 45 minutes away, at 4:30am before school, 3-4 days a week. God bless the parents too. 
 

Basketball and soccer(and to a degree baseball) are way more popular though because they’re easy to play in poor countries. They require no commitment from parents quite often, and facilities can be makeshift…And also apparently teams of 11 want to play against teams of 20 or whatever lmfao 

[Ulti]

And I’m stoked… arrived in Atlanta and will see Argentina vs Egypt… never been to any professional soccer game before.. only Ted Lasso haha… just started watching you tube highlights over the past few weeks… Buddy invited me and I hear the Benz where the game is being played is fantastic.