World Cup 2026

Lots of silly o'clock kick offs, I'm assuming. How many countries have hosted the tournament more than once since England last had it? I can't remember which year that was, though!

Mexico 3 times!
Germany twice
'murica twice
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
It's dire as an American fan of the sport in terms of being competitive on the word stage - at least for the men's game ( our woman's national side has been, perhaps arguably, the best side in world football for decades, but is now facing challenge).

Our national men's side sucks - and always has. If we make it out of the group stage we'll be lucky.

Still.. I like the WC - my favorite tournament by far. Even if the US doesn't advance far (I don't think that they will), I'll enjoy the tournament, watching as many games as I can.
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Wrong. In the early 2000's the team was very good. It went to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup. In 2009 made the Confederation's Cup final, along the way beating Spain, then ranked #1 in the world.

The team was ranked 4th in the world in 2009.

If that is too long ago for you, the U.S. men's team was ranked 10th in the world in 2021. It's current ranking is 16th. Is that one of the "top" teams? I suppose it depends on who you speak to and where they are from in the world?

Think about how many nations play this sport. Now think about how being ranked 16th compares to the number of football playing nations. I am no by no means an apologist for the U.S. men's teams but I do believe you are being a little unfair, or more likely, ignorant (I did not call you stupid, mind. There is a difference in the meaning of the two words.) and simply say things to say them without knowing all the facts.
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
I actually like Micah - not for his commentary - which is lousy - but for his enthusiasm for the game. And when he makes stupid claims it sparks pushback and interesting, fact-based, analysis from other pundits.

Plus - isn't Micah just a pundit in a game analysis studio setting - and not trusted with being the co-commentator of a live football broadcast? Micah would likely such as a live announcer IMO.

I've not watched any of Dolphins or Carragher - I'll take your word for it that they are lousy.

Nonetheless - would such lousy broadcasters be featured - except in some match that no one cares about - in a World Cup live broadcast in the UK?

And therein is the stark difference - you may have to put up with poor announcers in some WC broadcasts or some pundits that you don't like in post game analysis - but in the USA - with Fox having broadcast rights - it's quite possible (IMO likely) that numerous matches will have shit announcers for the live feed - even to the extent that the final will be called by shit announcers.
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'Not watched any Dolphins' made me laugh anyway :)
 
better dead than red said:
Wrong. In the early 2000's the team was very good. It went to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup. In 2009 made the Confederation's Cup final, along the way beating Spain, then ranked #1 in the world.

The team was ranked 4th in the world in 2009.

If that is too long ago for you, the U.S. men's team was ranked 10th in the world in 2021. It's current ranking is 16th. Is that one of the "top" teams? I suppose it depends on who you speak to and where they are from in the world?

Think about how many nations play this sport. Now think about how being ranked 16th compares to the number of football playing nations. I am no by no means an apologist for the U.S. men's teams but I do believe you are being a little unfair, or more likely, ignorant (I did not call you stupid, mind. There is a difference in the meaning of the two words.) and simply say things to say them without knowing all the facts.
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Yeah, The Us of A have got a lot better since 94 when this fella was upfront.
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better dead than red said:
Wrong. In the early 2000's the team was very good. It went to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup. In 2009 made the Confederation's Cup final, along the way beating Spain, then ranked #1 in the world.

The team was ranked 4th in the world in 2009.

If that is too long ago for you, the U.S. men's team was ranked 10th in the world in 2021. It's current ranking is 16th. Is that one of the "top" teams? I suppose it depends on who you speak to and where they are from in the world?

Think about how many nations play this sport. Now think about how being ranked 16th compares to the number of football playing nations. I am no by no means an apologist for the U.S. men's teams but I do believe you are being a little unfair, or more likely, ignorant (I did not call you stupid, mind. There is a difference in the meaning of the two words.) and simply say things to say them without knowing all the facts.
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World rankings are misleading.

4th best team in the world in 2009? Are you kidding me?

The men's national "soccer" side has usually been good enough to get past the knockout stage, and maybe win more game (but mostly not) and then runs into the reality that our side isn't good enough to advance any further.

>> I am no by no means an apologist for the U.S. men's teams but I do believe you are being a little unfair, or more likely, ignorant
A distinction without difference.

I've played the sport; and I've watched world football since 2010 or so.

And I stand by what I've said.

Men's "soccer" in the USA isn't popular as compared to American tackle football, baseball, basketball... and perhaps even hockey. The net effect of this is that talented would-be "soccer" players might instead pursue one of these other sports. Moreover, our development of talented "soccer" players - strikes me as... lacking.

Look - if you're born in the USA - and want to play "soccer" and are extremely talented - the best advice I can give you is to join a European youth academy if you can.
 
better dead than red said:
Wrong. In the early 2000's the team was very good. It went to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup. In 2009 made the Confederation's Cup final, along the way beating Spain, then ranked #1 in the world.

The team was ranked 4th in the world in 2009.

If that is too long ago for you, the U.S. men's team was ranked 10th in the world in 2021. It's current ranking is 16th. Is that one of the "top" teams? I suppose it depends on who you speak to and where they are from in the world?

Think about how many nations play this sport. Now think about how being ranked 16th compares to the number of football playing nations. I am no by no means an apologist for the U.S. men's teams but I do believe you are being a little unfair, or more likely, ignorant (I did not call you stupid, mind. There is a difference in the meaning of the two words.) and simply say things to say them without knowing all the facts.
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Note: here I'm calling you an idiot.

Because you're clueless.

Why is it that the Woman's USA side has been so dominant over the past few decades.

Once you figure this out - you'll realize that the Men's "soccer" side - faces unique challenges - and always fields OK-ish sides - favorite to advance into the knockout stage - but almost always no further.
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
Note: here I'm calling you an idiot.

Because you're clueless.

Why is it that the Woman's USA side has been so dominant over the past few decades.

Once you figure this out - you'll realize that the Men's "soccer" side - faces unique challenges - and always fields OK-ish sides - favorite to advance into the knockout stage - but almost always no further.
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Go fuck yourself. You constantly say stupid things here. Constantly. And like a lot of fucking idiots you think the more you say, the more authoritative you sound about something.

You're a fucking moron. I doubt I'm the first person in your life to tell you this. Your mother and father are probably embarrassed of you.
 
better dead than red said:
Go fuck yourself. You constantly say stupid things here. Constantly. And like a lot of fucking idiots you think the more you say, the more authoritative you sound about something.

You're a fucking moron. I doubt I'm the first person in your life to tell you this. Your mother and father are probably embarrassed of you.
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1752154231121.png
 
better dead than red said:
Go fuck yourself. You constantly say stupid things here. Constantly. And like a lot of fucking idiots you think the more you say, the more authoritative you sound about something.

You're a fucking moron. I doubt I'm the first person in your life to tell you this. Your mother and father are probably embarrassed of you.
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The truth is that your 2009 example of a highly skilled USA team - has some merit - but, IMO not as much weight as you give it.

Why?

Because the USA faces teams in their own continental zones by in large - which is CONCACAF.

The 2009 team you site - rated top 4 in the world - let's be honest - that ranking is far too generous - melted once past the group stage - which was expected.

I very much liked the 2010 WC team USA - and they performed - honestly below my personal expectations.

But a ranking of 4th best side in the world is bullshit (because teams from leagues such as CONCACAF face teams from other divisions very infrequently and because a lucky win or two- given the ranking system in 2010 - was speculative. - but advancing past the group stage and past the first knockout side - I expected that they would.

At any rate - I think that team USA currently is obviously shit. I think that FIFA rankings - at least in 2010 are questionable. I think that our 2010 side was favorite to advance into the group stage. And I think that our loss versus Ghana illustrates the problem with FIFA rankings.

Which is this - when comparing leagues against each other - there's far, far too few data points to reach firm conclusions.
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Read the above - I hope you've calmed down -FFS look at the overall picture before posting a USA! USA! USA! post.

Fuck yeah - I'm routing for USA - and will cheer them on. But in men's football - team USA is shit - and has always been so in my lifetime.
 
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Tbilisi said:
No need for an apology, just keep your political thoughts on the politics thread, sure there is one.
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Politics was not mentioned at all, just the actual position of fans etc. Eg Iran has already qualified but its fans are banned from going to USA. The ban is a fact, not a political statement. You are making unwarranted assumptions. The fact is that FIFA are having to replan aspects of the WC to accomodate current US policy to non nationals.
The WC is supposed to be a big party celebrating football, but some fans will be excluded. I made no comment on the right or otherwise of the USA to exclude whom they wish, just its effect on the WC.
 
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KS55 said:
Politics was not mentioned at all, just the actual position of fans etc. You make assumptions. The fact is that FIFA are replanning aspects of the WC to accomodate current US policy to non nationals.
The WC is supposed to be a big party celebrating football, but some fans will be excluded.
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No assumptions, you were on the WCC thread going on about Trump.
I come on here for football not opinions of world leaders.
 
Tbilisi said:
No assumptions, you were on the WCC thread going on about Trump.
I come on here for football not opinions of world leaders.
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I did not go on about Trump at all. I didn’t even mention his name in my o.p. You are putting words in my mouth, a despicable thing to do.
Quote where I ‘went on ‘about him.
 
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