2026 FIFA World Cup Thread

[thspfc]

There goes about 95% of the local interest in Fresno and probably most of the Central Valley with Mexico losing to England.

Don't let the door hit them on the way out.

For context my wife was at her dad's house tonight in Firebaugh watching the game.  Most of her family is from Jalisco and I'm to understand that there was thirty plus people over. 

I was fixing cameras at work today so I went home after I was done this afternoon.  I'm not aware of any family or friends doing anything for the U.S. game tomorrow.

So am I right to say you're basing your estimation of the entire Central Valley (~7 million people) off the skewed sample size of your wife's family?

Have I done something to offend you?  You seem extra pissy tonight.

I'm more so pissy at Americans who wake up and decide they're Mexico fans despite likely not being able to tell me who a single one of their players plays their club ball for. But if that's not actually a thing and it's just people who actually have ties to Mexico that are rooting for Mexico then that's different.

Are you assuming I'm rooting for Mexico?  I'd prefer they would have beat England tonight, but doesn't mean I am a fan.  I'm watching the U.S. team tomorrow.  It probably just be me and my wife watching at home though.   

And yes, my wife and I even to travel to Mexico every year to visit her family.  At least half of them still reside in Jalisco. 

No, not everything is about you . . . my point is you've made it sound like Mexico was an overwhelming favorite but considering almost 50% of the Central Valley is not Hispanic/Latino that shouldn't be the case.

All I'm saying is, any American out there who has no Mexican heritage and doesn't follow soccer outside the WC to a reasonable degree and decided to support Mexico is not welcome in my household. That's only half a joke.

Nah, I think you're just replying to be a dick at this point.  Since you danced around digging at my wife's family you can fuck yourself.  At least they make watching soccer enjoyable. 

Where exactly did I "dance around digging at your wife's family"? Was it when I suggested the sample of your wife's family isn't representative of 7 million people?

[Scott5114]

All I'm saying is, any American out there who has no Mexican heritage and doesn't follow soccer outside the WC to a reasonable degree and just decided to support Mexico is not welcome in my household. That's only half a joke.

Threatening to kick someone out of your house because of what sports team they like? Did you go to school at OU?

[kphoger]

I'm more so pissy at Americans who wake up and decide they're Mexico fans despite likely not even being able to tell me who a single one of their players plays their club ball for.

Why tf do you even care AT ALL what soccer team anybody cheers for?  Geez, it's just a game.

[formulanone]

I'm more so pissy at Americans who wake up and decide they're Mexico fans despite likely not even being able to tell me who a single one of their players plays their club ball for.

Why tf do you even care AT ALL what soccer team anybody cheers for?  Geez, it's just a game.

Heck, sometimes I have no vested interest in a game or event but I pick a side to root for because they have cool uniforms, seem like obscure underdogs, or somebody has a funny name.

[kphoger]

... my point is you've made it sound like Mexico was an overwhelming favorite but considering almost 50% of the Central Valley is not Hispanic/Latino that shouldn't be the case.

Are you counting all the non-Hispanic non-fan residents who are related to Hispanics, or who are friends with Hispanics, or who work with Hispanics, or whose neighbors are Hispanic?  If someone doesn't care one way or the other which teams wins a game, then it doesn't seem unreasonable to root for whichever team the other people at your party are rooting for.

All I'm saying is, any American out there who has no Mexican heritage and doesn't follow soccer outside the WC to a reasonable degree and just decided to support Mexico is not welcome in my household. That's only half a joke.

So, does that extend to every sport for every country?  I'm not Swiss, but I've rooted for Roger Federer before.

[thspfc]

... my point is you've made it sound like Mexico was an overwhelming favorite but considering almost 50% of the Central Valley is not Hispanic/Latino that shouldn't be the case.

Are you counting all the non-Hispanic non-fan residents who are related to Hispanics, or who are friends with Hispanics, or who work with Hispanics, or whose neighbors are Hispanic?  If someone doesn't care one way or the other which teams wins a game, then it doesn't seem unreasonable to root for whichever team the other people at your party are rooting for.

All I'm saying is, any American out there who has no Mexican heritage and doesn't follow soccer outside the WC to a reasonable degree and just decided to support Mexico is not welcome in my household. That's only half a joke.

So, does that extend to every sport for every country?  I'm not Swiss, but I've rooted for Roger Federer before.

It extends to sports played by international teams. Roger Federer is Roger Federer, not Switzerland. Manchester United is Manchester United, not England.

Also, yes, I do judge you if you decide to root for a team solely because people you know do.

[NWI_Irish96]

As the US releases a starting lineup that includes Balogun, I will reiterate:

The VAR room, which included one European, deliberately violated procedure to show the on-field referee images that predisposed him to issue a red card to Balogun, ejecting him from a game against a European team and suspending him for another game against a European team.

All FIFA had to do, within 24 hours or at most 48 hours of the end of that game, was provide that as their reason for vacating the red card.

Instead, they did it in the worst way possible. Win or lose, the US team deserves better than to have this end up how it did.

Also, Belgium knows damn well that despite how the decision was made, it was the right decision and it should be beneath them to whine like they did.

[JayhawkCO]

As the US releases a starting lineup that includes Balogun, I will reiterate:

The VAR room, which included one European, deliberately violated procedure to show the on-field referee images that predisposed him to issue a red card to Balogun, ejecting him from a game against a European team and suspending him for another game against a European team.

All FIFA had to do, within 24 hours or at most 48 hours of the end of that game, was provide that as their reason for vacating the red card.

Instead, they did it in the worst way possible. Win or lose, the US team deserves better than to have this end up how it did.

Also, Belgium knows damn well that despite how the decision was made, it was the right decision and it should be beneath them to whine like they did.

I agree with you. And, yeah, Trump called. But that's like the 15,614th most offensive thing he's done. In the end, justice was served. FIFA has always been corrupt and somehow this is the most egregious example? Give me a break. The Qatar WC in and of itself is the worst 20 things FIFA has done.

[thspfc]

Matt Freese and Tim Ream lost the game.

[NWI_Irish96]

Matt Freese and Tim Ream lost the game.

They lost the game when they spent so much energy whining about the red card.

They should have just accepted it and moved on.

Also, don't sub off Dest when he actually played a decent first half compared to Pulisic or McKennie.

Pulisic is glass. He's amazing if you don't touch him.

[thspfc]

Matt Freese and Tim Ream lost the game.

Ream should've been sat when it was apparent we'd be playing forwards twice his speed, then he should've been subbed off when he sleepwalked through the first goal, then he should've been subbed off when he sleepwalked through the second goal, then he should've been subbed off when he sleepwalked through the third goal, then he should've been subbed off when there was 20 minutes left down 2 goals.

I'm out on MLS. Our two starters from MLS were our worst starters in the tournament, by far, and our subs from MLS barely played.

[NWI_Irish96]

Matt Freese and Tim Ream lost the game.

Ream should've been sat when it was apparent we'd be playing forwards twice his speed, then he should've been subbed off when he sleepwalked through the first goal, then he should've been subbed off when he sleepwalked through the second goal, then he should've been subbed off when he sleepwalked through the third goal, then he should've been subbed off when there was 20 minutes left down 2 goals.

I'm out on MLS. Our two starters from MLS were our worst starters in the tournament, by far, and our subs from MLS barely played.

Ream was playing because we don't have better options at center back. By far our weakest position depth wise.

[thspfc]

Matt Freese and Tim Ream lost the game.

Ream should've been sat when it was apparent we'd be playing forwards twice his speed, then he should've been subbed off when he sleepwalked through the first goal, then he should've been subbed off when he sleepwalked through the second goal, then he should've been subbed off when he sleepwalked through the third goal, then he should've been subbed off when there was 20 minutes left down 2 goals.

I'm out on MLS. Our two starters from MLS were our worst starters in the tournament, by far, and our subs from MLS barely played.

Ream was playing because we don't have better options at center back. By far our weakest position depth wise.

Even if it could possibly get worse, he should've been pulled by the second goal at absolute latest. If he can't win a ball out of the air he has the physical positioning on, he's legitimately offering nothing out there. Put on an attacking threat for him, go to a back 3 and go down swinging.

[kphoger]

It extends to sports played by international teams. Roger Federer is Roger Federer, not Switzerland. Manchester United is Manchester United, not England.

meh.  Cruz Azul is a bunch of soccer players from Mexico, and the Mexican World Cup team is a bunch of soccer players from Mexico.

Besides, I really don't understand why it's OK to cheer for an individual Swiss tennis player competing against an individual American tennis player at an international tournament but it isn't OK to cheer for a Swiss soccer team competing against an American soccer team at an international tournament.  That seems like a meaningless distinction to make.

Also, yes, I do judge you if you decide to root for a team solely because people you know do.

That's fine.  I judge you for thinking less of people who root for a different sports team than you do.

[thspfc]

Also, yes, I do judge you if you decide to root for a team solely because people you know do.

That's fine.  I judge you for thinking less of people who root for a different sports team than you do.

Look at us, discovering opinions! I'm proud of both of us

[Bruce]

Ream was playing because we don't have better options at center back. By far our weakest position depth wise.

We could have a younger but well-seasoned center back (Jackson Ragen) if he was able to stay healthy for certain camps. Sad that he never got a full shot.

I'm out on MLS. Our two starters from MLS were our worst starters in the tournament, by far, and our subs from MLS barely played.

Blaming this on MLS is hilariously out of touch. What good did our European-trained attack do today?

[thspfc]

I'm out on MLS. Our two starters from MLS were our worst starters in the tournament, by far, and our subs from MLS barely played.

Blaming this on MLS is hilariously out of touch. What good did our European-trained attack do today?

Scored one goal and created opportunities for more. If you don't think Freese and Ream were the worst players on the field I'm not sure what game you were watching. Will say Pulisic was bad as well.

[thspfc]

The silver lining to getting the shit beat out of us is now we know we still can't compete and need to make drastic changes. The 2014 extra time loss induced a wildly false evaluation of our ability.

After Trinidad we actually did make the necessary changes to at least get back to being a World Cup knockout team rather than one that struggles to even qualify. We dumped 10 of 11 starters and almost the entire roster then, need not that extreme this time but as of now I'd say Balogun, Tillman, Freeman, and McKennie/Adams/Pulisic/Robinson if they're still in their prime are the only players I'd be excited to see in 2030.

[kphoger]

The silver lining to getting the shit beat out of us is now we know we still can't compete and need to make drastic changes.

No, the silver lining is that now we're allowed to cheer for other countries' teams.

[thspfc]

The silver lining to getting the shit beat out of us is now we know we still can't compete and need to make drastic changes.

No, the silver lining is that now we're allowed to cheer for other countries' teams.

I missed the part where I attempted to take away your right to cheer for other teams. I thought we just realized we all have the right to do whatever we want and everyone else has the right to judge us for it.

[kphoger]

All I'm saying is, any American out there who has no Mexican heritage and doesn't follow soccer outside the WC to a reasonable degree and just decided to support Mexico is not welcome in my household. That's only half a joke.

So, does that extend to every sport for every country?  I'm not Swiss, but I've rooted for Roger Federer before.

It extends to sports played by international teams. Roger Federer is Roger Federer, not Switzerland. Manchester United is Manchester United, not England.

What about the Olympics?

Was it OK to cheer for Roger Federer at the 2012 Olympics—when he was representing Switzerland, beat John Isner of "Team USA" to move on to the semi-finals, and won a silver medal?

[thspfc]

All I'm saying is, any American out there who has no Mexican heritage and doesn't follow soccer outside the WC to a reasonable degree and just decided to support Mexico is not welcome in my household. That's only half a joke.

So, does that extend to every sport for every country?  I'm not Swiss, but I've rooted for Roger Federer before.

It extends to sports played by international teams. Roger Federer is Roger Federer, not Switzerland. Manchester United is Manchester United, not England.

What about the Olympics?

Was it OK to cheer for Roger Federer at the 2012 Olympics—when he was representing Switzerland, beat John Isner of "Team USA" to move on to the semi-finals, and won a silver medal?

Roger Federer is Roger Federer, not Switzerland. I also don't believe you actually watched Olympic tennis in 2012.

[Great Lakes Roads]

What a good game to end the round of 16! 6 European countries, 1 South American country, and 1 African country moving on to the elite 8.

[kphoger]

Roger Federer is Roger Federer, not Switzerland.

News flash:  the Mexican World Cup team isn't Mexico, either.

I also don't believe you actually watched Olympic tennis in 2012.

Tennis is one of my favorite sports to watch on TV, but I do think you're correct about the 2012 Olympics.  I've been watching a lot more of the Olympics lately, but I think that trend started in 2018 for me.  Before then, I just wasn't as interested, and it's actually quite possible I didn't watch any of the 2012 games.  At least, I don't specifically remember watching them that year.

[thspfc]

Roger Federer is Roger Federer, not Switzerland.

News flash:  the Mexican World Cup team isn't Mexico, either.

By what other name are they more often called?