OT: The 2026 World Cup Thread

Guts · Jul 1, 2026

We on to Belgium

bormio · Jul 1, 2026

Pepe with fresh legs did not impress. That’s your striker Monday.

bormio · Jul 1, 2026

Man that free kick was sweet

jimnance · Jul 1, 2026

I don't watch a lot of soccer. Can any of you futbol experts tell me if we have any chance of beating Belgium w/o Balogun?

lancerman · Jul 1, 2026

jimnance said:
I don't watch a lot of soccer. Can any of you futbol experts tell me if we have any chance of beating Belgium w/o Balogun?

Yeah there's a chance.

TommyD4207 · Jul 1, 2026

bormio said:
US needs the 2nd goal - do not trust them to keep a clean sheet

You're having a captain stone kinda day.

bormio · Jul 1, 2026

Bosnia tried to dirty the game up and got rewarded with a red card on Balogan. Intent does not always matter in soccer, and you have to be very body aware. You clatter into the back of someone’s leg, you are giving the ref carte blanche to red card you. Doesn’t always seem fair, but neither do a lot of handballs in the box called for arm in an ‘unnatural’ position.

TommyD4207 · Jul 1, 2026

jimnance said:
I don't watch a lot of soccer. Can any of you futbol experts tell me if we have any chance of beating Belgium w/o Balogun?

Considering the US 1s have given up one goal in 3 games, and Belgium only beat Senegal due to Refball, I'm feeling pretty good about it.

TommyD4207 · Jul 1, 2026

bormio said:
Bosnia tried to dirty the game up and got rewarded with a red card on Balogan. Intent does not always matter in soccer, and you have to be very body aware. You clatter into the back of someone’s leg, you are giving the ref carte blanche to red card you. Doesn’t always seem fair, but neither do a lot of handballs in the box called for arm in an ‘unnatural’ position.

Holy ********, batman. "Intent" is literally why Red Cards exist.

lancerman · Jul 1, 2026

TommyD4207 said:
Holy ********, batman. "Intent" is literally why Red Cards exist.

Intent doesn't matter here. Here is the official rule in the 2025-2026 laws of the game manual by the International Football Association Board, which FIFA falls under.

A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play. Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play

Serious Foul Play is a red card offense. Has nothing to do with intent. It's to prevent recklessness that can injure someone, which is effectively what happened.

And before someone asks, yes Messi should have had a red card.

bormio · Jul 1, 2026

TommyD4207 said:
Holy ********, batman. "Intent" is literally why Red Cards exist.

You try to hurt someone, you’re gonna get red-carded. But some dangerous fouls do not require intent. Back of the leg is considered dangerous play. Even the color guy on the broadcast was worried when he saw it replayed. It is like the penalty that decided the Belgium game. Everyone yelling it wasn’t intentional. But as Klinsmann said - but he took him down. It’s a penalty. ( Then he said “I’m a striker”).

Guts · Jul 1, 2026

jimnance said:
I don't watch a lot of soccer. Can any of you futbol experts tell me if we have any chance of beating Belgium w/o Balogun?

Very good chance tbh
Belgium have been underwhelming and it's not their golden generation anymore that it was in "18 WC
they have Doku an aging De Bruyne and their best player is the goalkeeper

XLIX · Jul 2, 2026

Guts said:
That wasnt a red
Messi did the same ****

Yeah I saw that Messi play on X where people complained about his special treatment. It was the same thing; an inadvertent stepping on the ankle.

I guess Messi is the Patrick Mahomes of soccer….

OldEngland · Jul 2, 2026

jimnance said:
I don't watch a lot of soccer. Can any of you futbol experts tell me if we have any chance of beating Belgium w/o Balogun?

Yes, they have a good chance. Belgium are a dangerous team though, still fifa ranked 9th in the world. The bookies have it pretty much as a coin flip.

Belgium had a really bad nations league in 2024 and lost 5 out of 6, but are unbeaten in 14 games since. None of those 14 games included a top 10 team, except for a draw against mexico in a friendly, but they did beat the US 5-2 in March this year in a friendly.

A few years ago they had an incredible team and were actually fifa ranked no.1 in the world for 4 years 2018-22. They came 3rd in 2018, but that golden age never came close to its potential in terms of tournament success (which shows the rankings don't always reflect the best team). Lots of that team has retired or are pretty old now. They also haven't really turned it on at WC26, but they still have some real quality.

To me the US should win against Belgium given the home advantage. Spain and France would be a different matter though.

TommyD4207 · Jul 2, 2026

XLIX said:
Yeah I saw that Messi play on X where people complained about his special treatment. It was the same thing; an inadvertent stepping on the ankle.

I guess Messi is the Patrick Mahomes of soccer….

Well Messi didn't fall off a cliff when he hit 29...

Mike the Brit · Jul 2, 2026

Guts said:
That wasnt a red
Messi did the same ****

Disagree -- a stone cold red. The U.S. guy jumped and launched himself with his studs (cleats) raised. Reckless and dangerous. Either would be enough to get him sent off.

Triumph · Jul 2, 2026

A pregame commentor (I believe former player) noticed that the US team has a tougher time vs European teams.

Bosnia gave them a game, so its likely end of the line for USA. Belgium had 5 shots on goal and 629 passes vs Senegal.

Guts · Jul 2, 2026

Mike the Brit said:
Disagree -- a stone cold red. The U.S. guy jumped and launched himself with his studs (cleats) raised. Reckless and dangerous. Either would be enough to get him sent off.

im being a messi hater let me be lol

One-If-By-Sea · Jul 2, 2026

Triumph said:
A pregame commentor (I believe former player) noticed that the US team has a tougher time vs European teams.

Bosnia gave them a game, so its likely end of the line for USA. Belgium had 5 shots on goal and 629 passes vs Senegal.

Bosnia did not give them a game. That was lopsided. The USA was playing 1 man down. LOL

Mike the Brit · Jul 2, 2026

Guts said:
im being a messi hater let me be lol

Fair enough -- you do you.

Mind you, I don't accept "being an incorrigible, loudmouthed ignoramus" as an excuse:

1	620

OT: The 2026 World Cup Thread

Akatsuki

Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract

Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract

Veteran Starter w/Big Long Term Deal

Pro Bowl Player

Pro Bowl Player

Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract

Pro Bowl Player

Pro Bowl Player

Pro Bowl Player

Experienced Starter w/First Big Contract

Akatsuki

Pro Bowl Player

Practice Squad Player

Pro Bowl Player

Minuteman Target

PatsFans.com Supporter

Akatsuki

PatsFans.com Supporter

Minuteman Target

Similar threads

📅 This Week in Patriots History: