I shed no tears whatsoever for the defeat of the US, not when the state of the world is as it currently is; whatever their private misgivings, teams are linked with the country they represent.
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The 2025-2026 Football Thread
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Apple fanboy
macrumors Ivy Bridge
Silencio
macrumors 68040
I was really looking forward to this year's World Cup and planned on attending at least one match. Now I sincerely hope the whole US-hosted portion of the event is a colossal failure and USMNT pick up 0 points.
I'll have to remain content with attending a couple of WC 94 matches at Stanford Stadium, particularly getting to witness Brazil samba all over Cameroon.
I'll have to remain content with attending a couple of WC 94 matches at Stanford Stadium, particularly getting to witness Brazil samba all over Cameroon.
Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
The Olympics were a bit different - many US athletes had the individual courage to dissociate themselves publicly from the current regime.
But, FIFA and CONCACAF being what they are, the WC has now become a propaganda exercise on both sides with FIFA toadying up to the host government - Just like Russia in 2018. Infantino is a sad little Quisling play-acting as if he were a relevant statesman. And he is emphatically not.
Agreed. The players aren't at fault, but any success on their part is going to be used for propaganda purposes, and so the quicker they fail, the better.
Fantastic that you had the opportunity to see those. I was too young and too broke at the time. 🤣 USA '94 is still seen as one of the better all-time tournaments. So, no matter what happens, we'll always have that.
Ah, the 1990s...if I had a time machine...
decafjava
macrumors 603
Sal09
Suspended
Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
Riffing on the Spurs situation - does anyone think they’d be in this bad of a hole if they’d simply kept Ange?
What an incredible result for Bosnia-Herzegovina though.
Italy is simply not what they were 20 years ago.
What an incredible result for Bosnia-Herzegovina though.
Italy is simply not what they were 20 years ago.
I keep expecting Italy to continue be the football power that they were around 20 to 30 years ago, and am constantly surprised when they all too clearly amply demonstrate that, nowadays, they are nothing of the sort.
Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
Portugal brush aside USA 2-0 in their friendly match. Another fairly concerning performance from USA. Leaving the politics aside, I haven't been hugely impressed with the Pochettino era. Looking back over the last 20 years it's been a series of false dawns. The domestic game has grown, but if you look at USA World Cup performances in 2002 and 2006, I don't think we've pushed on from there.
I could go on and on about the causes, but essentially there is no unified national talent recruitment system, most major academies are middle class, suburban, expensive. MLS has grown but is not helping grow the domestic player pool as much as it should, and not enough players are finding ways to build careers in Europe either.
The 1994 World Cup succeeded in permanently establishing the professional game in the USA, but there is still a very long way to go. Arguably, other sports will always be bigger here and that is the biggest limiting factor on how far we can progress.
Adding in the current geopolitical situation, it sadly means a huge missed opportunity to take another step in growing the game here.
I could go on and on about the causes, but essentially there is no unified national talent recruitment system, most major academies are middle class, suburban, expensive. MLS has grown but is not helping grow the domestic player pool as much as it should, and not enough players are finding ways to build careers in Europe either.
The 1994 World Cup succeeded in permanently establishing the professional game in the USA, but there is still a very long way to go. Arguably, other sports will always be bigger here and that is the biggest limiting factor on how far we can progress.
Adding in the current geopolitical situation, it sadly means a huge missed opportunity to take another step in growing the game here.
Bodhitree
macrumors 68030
Yes, me too. I’m still in the mode of thinking of the great teams with Baggio, Maldini and co, and am surprised when they fall short in qualifying. Last year Inter Milan flattered to deceive in the UCL final, earlier games between PSG and Liverpool would have been a worthier matchup.
I think the Dutch team will do all right, but they don’t have the cutting edge to do better than the QFs or SFs at best.
Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
We're all looking at Italy nostalgically, but in the cold light of day this is not a vintage squad. However, the bigger issue is that they are playing way below their potential at the moment. I don't see this pool of Italian players being contenders for the WC, but at the same time their collective talent is superior to a number of nations that will be participating. They should have qualified. That points to a failure of leadership. Gattuso might not be the right man for the job, but the real issues are above him.
I'm ambivalent about it. Given the political nature of this particular World Cup and the state of the planet, there is a potential for the discussion to get spicy and mods to get involved. Worth considering.
Someone created a separate thread for the 2022 tournament, IIRC. There's no reason to close this one out till August or so, when the 2026-2027 league season starts. But we could have a separate thread for the WC.
I'm ambivalent about it. Given the political nature of this particular World Cup and the state of the planet, there is a potential for the discussion to get spicy and mods to get involved. Worth considering.
daneoni
macrumors G5
A WC final ticket now costs $11,000 for a single ticket. A first for any WC, and a far cry from the $1,550 that was pitched for their bid
Because FIFA has decided to employ dynamic pricing based on demand
For reference, a Qatar WC final ticket was around a tenth of that at $1600
My friends and i were considering going but swiftly changed our minds after the ICE fiasco, and now the war, and pricing.
I don't even think i'll bother watching.
Can't even enjoy the game in peace anymore.
If its not Russia cheating, or Qatar corrupting everyone, its the US with its capitalism and political chaos and corruption.
All on the background of FIFA continuing to be slimy at every turn by taking the money and turning a blind eye
Because FIFA has decided to employ dynamic pricing based on demand
For reference, a Qatar WC final ticket was around a tenth of that at $1600
My friends and i were considering going but swiftly changed our minds after the ICE fiasco, and now the war, and pricing.
I don't even think i'll bother watching.
Can't even enjoy the game in peace anymore.
If its not Russia cheating, or Qatar corrupting everyone, its the US with its capitalism and political chaos and corruption.
All on the background of FIFA continuing to be slimy at every turn by taking the money and turning a blind eye
Last edited:
Apple fanboy
macrumors Ivy Bridge
I’m certainly not looking forward to the tournament. Yes I’ll watch the England games (until the inevitable knockout on penalties!). But it’s going to be a highly political tournament.
TBH I’d not go to the final if England were in it and the ticket was free. I’m anticipating some empty seats at a CB lot of the matches.
Quite apart from the flagrant price gouging (an example of pure greed), there is also the consideration of the sort of football that is likely to be played in the final: Safe, cautious, football: To my mind, many, if not most (granted, not all), of the finals have been a huge anti-climax - and a massive disappointment - from the perspective of a spectator, especially the sort of spectator who does not have a vested (or emotional) interest in the outcome, or result.
In my experience, the quarter finals and semi-finals can sometimes produce excellent, competitive, and exciting matches, which is very rarely the case with the finals.
decafjava
macrumors 603
Meh I will watch some matches for teams I like. I expect they will organize fan zones here in Geneva with a huge screen, overpriced food and probably crummy mass-market beer (good local wines though) as they did last year during the women's cup. Other times at fan zones they have promoted local craft beers and a variety of street food - still expensive by Swiss standards (!!!) but ok.
Tough to be a sports fan sometimes.
Tough to be a sports fan sometimes.
I'll watch the games that show up in free TV at times that are convenient to me.
I'll also probably end following the results of interesting teams.
Won't spend a cent on anything.
I'll also probably end following the results of interesting teams.
Won't spend a cent on anything.
Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
The price inflation is ludicrous. Leaving all the other baggage aside, that alone is a major problem with FIFA’s model for the World Cup. There is just no scenario where this is remotely fair or in any way in line with FIFA’s alleged purpose.
It’s now a tournament for the wealthy and corporate to attend in person. The rest of us get to pay a bundle to watch their commercials…and some football. Or turn it off.
It’s now a tournament for the wealthy and corporate to attend in person. The rest of us get to pay a bundle to watch their commercials…and some football. Or turn it off.
Lord Blackadder
macrumors P6
I expect Liverpool to be unceremoniously brushed aside by Man City. If current form is anything to go by.