OT: The 2026 World Cup Thread

[brdmaverick]

If anyone is curious to see some of the sights and sounds I captured at the Norway-Iraq game here they are......

 

[Bill Lee]

Can you explain the specific criteria for giving a red card? It would seem reserved for a blatantly intentional foul, but the ones I've seen in this tournament appear incidental involving both players going for the ball. Referees relying on slow-motion replay before passing final judgment makes things even murkier, especially when freeze-framing things that appear completely innocuous real-time.

Elsewhere I read that IFAB Law 12 defines serious foul play as "A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality while challenging for the ball.". Note how intent is not mentioned, and that lack of mention is, uhm, intentional. It's what you do that matters, not why you did it.

 

[Bill Lee]

Agree, and I can't blame them.

Why is any politician impacting the games at all?

Come on people, if Obama had pressed to allow the Broncos to use a suspended player against the Patriots in AFCCG, and the NFL complied, we'd be livid!

Interestingly enough the 2018 World Cup was hosted by Russia.

Can you imagine how US fans would react if Putin pressured FIFA for a ruling that favored the Russian side?

Chances are they'd say he's a power hungry dictator who doesn't give a damn about fairness.

Therefore...

 

[XLIX]

The whole "city upon the hill" thing falls apart if the rest of the world doesn't care to look at us as a beacon.

They all look at us as a beacon when they need their asses saved.

 

[XLIX]

Some exceptions, of course it’s in Texas where the police have to get involved to stop team members from taking photos with fans…

Viral video shows Egypt coach, team director in Dallas police confrontation

The police did exactly what they should have done: Challenged some people who didn't have credentials to be where they were.

Sorry not sorry if Dallas police don't recognize the Egyptian National Team on sight.

 

[bormio]

I could easily see Spain winning this whole thing. They are a “tournament” team - better every round. And they have had France’s number

 

[XLIX]

An atrocious call got effectively overturned. That's fine by me. Nothing that happened today is changing anyone's opinions.

The people who love Trump still love Trump.
The people who hate Trump still hate Trump.

 

[borisman]

I can’t wait until the World Cup Finale.
Nothing against soccer. Its only because it means training camp will be opening 6 days later. And betting on soccer games has been stressful. Case in point, I had Brazil/Norway over 2.5 goals. Talk about lucking out.