OT: The 2026 World Cup Thread

[TommyD4207]

The tie score in soccer makes it difficult to watch...

It should always go to a sudden death...

That way if you want to see the action... you can watch the last 15 minutes.

1 Hour of running your ass off trying to score, and then a bunch of difficult free kicks... and the opposing team gets to answer.

If you cant score in 1 hr... why do you need another half hour.

Tough to do in group play, so many matches, teams advance on points.

In the knockout rounds, I don't hate that. I would be fine with getting rid of PKs, and just making 'extra time' sudden death. Keep going until there's a winner. Settling on PKs is stupid to me, a dumb way to finish what's presumably a pretty great game otherwise.

The current extra time/PK combination is what happens when people cry that 'Josh Allen never touched the ball in overtime', btw. 1 to 1 comparison.

 

[ScottishPatriots]

Tough to do in group play, so many matches, teams advance on points.

In the knockout rounds, I don't hate that. I would be fine with getting rid of PKs, and just making 'extra time' sudden death. Keep going until there's a winner. Settling on PKs is stupid to me, a dumb way to finish what's presumably a pretty great game otherwise.

The current extra time/PK combination is what happens when people cry that 'Josh Allen never touched the ball in overtime', btw. 1 to 1 comparison.

The issue with that is the game could quite easily go for another 2-3hrs then the winner would be completely dead to play in the next round 4 days later, you just create more bad games.

The good thing about that is no matter how boring the game is it's over in 120 minutes and everyone can get on with their lives, if you can't win the game in that time then you kind of deserve the lottery that is penalties to decide your fate, you have plenty of time to win it before it gets there.

There is probably more boring knockout matches that go the whole way than classics that deserved a better ending.

 

[sambam94]

Childless? Inattentive father? Uncoordinated kids?

..

or kids picked better sports that required some talent instead of getting lost in the crowd on the soccer field.
With baseball, kid is in the batter's box one on one with the pitcher, no where to hide. Ball gets hit to him, he makes the play or he doesn't, no where to hide.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

or kids picked better sports that required some talent instead of getting lost in the crowd on the soccer field.
With baseball, kid is in the batter's box one on one with the pitcher, no where to hide. Ball gets hit to him, he makes the play or he doesn't, no where to hide.

Well that’s certainly an interesting take.
Have you tried to play soccer against highly skilled players?
There’s tons of talent there.

 

[sambam94]

Well that’s certainly an interesting take.
Have you tried to play soccer against highly skilled players?
There’s tons of talent there.

response was in regards to someone questioning if another poster had kids because he's never watched a soccer game.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I just watched the Mexico versus Korea game. I like soccer but games like that make me understand why some people think the sport is boring. Really boring game, only a few shots on goal, and Mexico wins 1 - 0 on a Korean goalie error.

The Mexico forwards trapped the ball poorly. Korea refused to attack on the wings when Mexico packed the center. Really boring game. Can't imagine either team goes far.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I just watched the Mexico versus Korea game. I like soccer but games like that make me understand why some people think the sport is boring. Really boring game, only a few shots on goal, and Mexico wins 1 - 0 on a Korean goalie error.

The Mexico forwards trapped the ball poorly. Korea refused to attack on the wings when Mexico packed the center. Really boring game. Can't imagine either team goes far.

My Canadians lite up the scoreboard. However Qatar was down 1, then 2 men for a big part of the game. Brutal injury to Kone. Broken leg on a bad tackle.

 

[farn]

My Canadians lite up the scoreboard. However Qatar was down 1, then 2 men for a big part of the game. Brutal injury to Kone. Broken leg on a bad tackle.

While the Kone injury looms, that was a must win game. This country (1) had yet to win (2) is co hosting (3) almost assuredly moves on with this win.

Truth ? I think they still win 4-0 without the red cards... the entire game was played in Qatar's zone and that includes the opening 15min. Motivated squad, playing at home, with decidedly more talent.

Even a loss to the Swiss + flaming out at the next step wouldn't be a disaster : losing (or a draw) yesterday would've been. Blows my mind the Swiss tied that pitiful team.

 

[Triumph]

I just watched the Mexico versus Korea game. I like soccer but games like that make me understand why some people think the sport is boring. Really boring game, only a few shots on goal, and Mexico wins 1 - 0 on a Korean goalie error.

The Mexico forwards trapped the ball poorly. Korea refused to attack on the wings when Mexico packed the center. Really boring game. Can't imagine either team goes far.

Didnt the Korea goalie come out too far leaving an open net?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Didnt the Korea goalie come out too far leaving an open net?

He came off his line to catch the ball, which he caught, and then ran into his own player, dropped the ball, and fell down. Could have punched the ball. Either way a terrible goalie error that led to an open net and the winning goal. Still had 30 minutes left and Korea didn't attack nearly enough.

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

While the Kone injury looms, that was a must win game. This country (1) had yet to win (2) is co hosting (3) almost assuredly moves on with this win.

Truth ? I think they still win 4-0 without the red cards... the entire game was played in Qatar's zone and that includes the opening 15min. Motivated squad, playing at home, with decidedly more talent.

Even a loss to the Swiss + flaming out at the next step wouldn't be a disaster : losing (or a draw) yesterday would've been. Blows my mind the Swiss tied that pitiful team.

Obv the best team Canada has ever had, and I see many “experts” pre tournament having them getting knocked out in the rd of 16.
I’m curious to see how the fare against the Swiss, that might give us a clearly picture just how good they are.
A draw wins them the group, so we might see a conservative game plan.

 

[italian pat patriot]

No Italy again... wonder why they've declined so much at the national level? And they won Euro 2020.... @italian pat patriot

I loved 1970/1982 time
I was a kid but i enjoyed that period
It was a grandissima Italia
Grandi azzurri

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I loved 1970/1982 time
I was a kid but i enjoyed that period
It was a grandissima Italia
Grandi azzurri

Amazing we have teams like KSA, Qatar…..etc, expanded to 64 and no Italy. Been a long drought for one of the all time power nations.

 

[italian pat patriot]

Amazing we have teams like KSA, Qatar…..etc, expanded to 64 and no Italy. Been a long drought for one of the all time power nations.

Considering that Italy under 17 was two weeks ago European Champion beating Belgium in the final something is not working at next level...

 

[borg]

I just watched the Mexico versus Korea game. I like soccer but games like that make me understand why some people think the sport is boring. Really boring game, only a few shots on goal, and Mexico wins 1 - 0 on a Korean goalie error.

The Mexico forwards trapped the ball poorly. Korea refused to attack on the wings when Mexico packed the center. Really boring game. Can't imagine either team goes far.

Unfortunately, this tournament's format like most, often compels teams to be satisfied with draws, even out of the gate.
I do understand Korea's tactics for this game.....make the game a snoozer so the 95% Mexican crowd has little to cheer for that might ignite the home team.