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The Soccer Thread (Version 13) — Winter World Cup Edition

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by Webster, Aug 5, 2022.

  1. MileHigh

    MileHigh Moderator Staff Member

    So the champion and runner-up would play eight games, up from seven. So most likely 12 groups of four, then the winner and runner-up from each group advancing and the eight best third-place teams so you have a 32-team knockout stage?
     
  2. Webster

    Webster Well-Known Member

    That appears to be the plan. I guess another way would be to give the top 8 teams a bye to the knockouts and have the 4 lowest ranked group winners and the second placed teams have a play-in round. But FIFA will want as many matches as possible.
     
  3. MileHigh

    MileHigh Moderator Staff Member

    Went back into the NYT story. Says 104 games.

    12 groups of four with six games each: 72 games

    32-team bracket: 31 games plus a third-place game gets you to 104.

    By adding 24 games, will they need to go back and add more venues to accommodate this?

    There are 11 in the U.S., three in Mexico and two in Canada. When the venues were announced, the plan was for 16 groups of three, then a 32-team knockout stage. 60 games in the U.S., 10 each in Mexico and Canada.

    Adding 24 games, you would think they will need to add more venues.
     
  4. Inky_Wretch

    Inky_Wretch Well-Known Member

    Good grief Haaland, let the other boys score a goal.
     
  5. MileHigh

    MileHigh Moderator Staff Member

    And official. 12 groups of four. Top two advance plus top eight third-place teams.

    World Cup 2026 to have four-team groups and 104 matches

    From The Athletic regarding venues:

    What this change means for the allocation of games between the three host nations remains to be seen, as the US was staging 60 games in the original format, with Canada and Mexico getting 10 each.

    FIFA could seek another host city or stadium but that would have financial implications. CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani said on Tuesday when asked about expanded venues: “I think you first try to put the footprint (of games) on what you have.” Montagliani said it was possible that the tournament could feature six group-stages games on a single day.”
     
  6. Cosmo

    Cosmo Well-Known Member

    Watford 3 0 Birmingham. Picked the wrong match but I’m having a fucking hell of a time at Cafe Sound Garden in Amsterdam so I’ll let it pass.
     
    Inky_Wretch likes this.
  7. TrooperBari

    TrooperBari Well-Known Member

    Austin FC's Concacaf Champions League run ends almost as quickly as it began, losing 3-2 to Violette, a Haitian club whose last competitive game was in May 2022 and last league game was in 2021. But damn if they didn't look hip and trendy while doing so! (Philadelphia's already through, Vancouver and LAFC are all but through, and Orlando can advance by beating Tigres at home, but let's not let any of that get in the way of some quality axe-grinding.)

     
  8. Webster

    Webster Well-Known Member

    That was some implosion by Fulham in the FA Cup QFs. Leading Man United 1-0 with 20 to go at Old Trafford and bossing the game. Then a VAR PK/red card for a handball on the line, the coach also gets a red AND their forward makes contact with the ref and gets a red. United tie the game on the PK, get a second goal a minute or so later against 9 men and win 3-1.
     
  9. Inky_Wretch

    Inky_Wretch Well-Known Member

    The Best Goal of 2023 has been scored already.

     
  10. Twirling Time

    Twirling Time Well-Known Member

    Not exactly a Golazo so much as a Pinche Portero.
     
    Inky_Wretch likes this.
  11. TrooperBari

    TrooperBari Well-Known Member

    The goalkeeper's union will be in touch with a friendly reminder for him not to celebrate such things.
     
  12. Webster

    Webster Well-Known Member

    I really can’t believe that Conte still has his job.
     
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