2026 World Cup thread

[Shropshire Slasher]

 

[Inky_Wretch]

AI slop ... ewwwwww.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

It was, but it was clever.

 

[Webster]

AI slop ... ewwwwww.

At least make him a lefty

 

[dixiehack]

About $150 gets you in the door for Liverpool v Sunderland next Saturday in Nashville. I know it would be factory clearance Liverpool but if it drops another $50 or so I just might bite.

 

[Scout]

What happened to team Norway when they returned home is exactly the magic that we hope the WC can bring. I mean, unexpected fighter jet?

And Haaland has a chance to be the most popular athlete… ever.

 

[Driftwood]

This was probably 20 years ago, so I can't remember what lower level EPL/upper level Championship team I saw play a friendly against Charleston Battery at old Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island. I remember having a good time, though.

 

[Driftwood]

As for liking/disliking countries in the WC:
One thing you can say about the Germans, historically they've had some snappy uniforms.
The national team's soccer kits have been crap, though.
(ba-da-da-ching - rimshot)

 

[Here me roar]

 

[micropolitan guy]

I think France v England will be a good game. Why bother holding anything back?

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

I will probably watch, but it would hold more interest for me if something were on the line, like automatic qualification into 2030 or even the 2028 Euros.

 

[UPChip]

The third-place game in the World Cup is kind of FIFA's answer to a pre-New Year's bowl. You really don't know what you're going to get both in terms of results and effort.

Last time out, both Croatia and Morocco scored in the first 10 minutes, with Croatia taking it on a goal late in the first half. Belgium won the 2018 game, which didn't have much to offer other than Michi Batshuayi with the best blooper in the history of the tournament. In 2014, Brazil demonstrated it was not done self-destructing, giving up a penalty in the third minute and a second goal within 20. 2010 was a straight-up banger between Uruguay and the Dutch. 2006 was a good game won by the hosts. In 2002, Hakan Sukur scored less than 12 seconds from the kickoff, which Turkey didn't even take. And in 1994, it was a 4-0 blowout in which the Swedes scored all their goals in the first 40 minutes.

 

[Cosmo]

Not sure England is going to even make it to the match since the Three Lions' bus remains parked at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

 

[Bubbler]

Clubs must HATE the third place game for fear of injury.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

CBS is airing USL Championship soccer and looks like a decent crowd in Pittsburgh.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

I was watching an MLS game last night and good lord, the drop in the quality of play is striking.

 

[UPChip]

I could be wrong, but the way France has played the first 2 1/2 minutes looks like the Canes in the Sun Bowl.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Apparently, bragging rights for the Chunnel aren't what they used to be.

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

I got stuck in to newspaper stuff and missed both England goals. But it’s a dead rubber so no biggie.

 

[Jake from State Farm]

The third-place game in the World Cup is kind of FIFA's answer to a pre-New Year's bowl. You really don't know what you're going to get both in terms of results and effort.

The youngsters won’t remember this but the NFL had a thing called the Playoff Bowl in the early 60s between the second place finishers of the Eastern and Western divisions. The Lions played in it in 1962 when they were the only team to beat the Packers