Fútbol chatter

[bing101]

San Jose Earthquakes is going to be sold. 

https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/controlling-share-san-jose-earthquakes-up-sale-2025-06-18/

[NWI_Irish96]

I can't say that I watch a lot of MLS or Primeira Liga, but Miami beating Porto seems like something that shouldn't happen.

[SEWIGuy]

I can't say that I watch a lot of MLS or Primeira Liga, but Miami beating Porto seems like something that shouldn't happen.

The European teams just finished their season, went on international break, and came back to a tournament that they don't give two sh*ts about because it's usually their off-season.

The American teams are mid-way through their seasons - except for Brazil's which seemingly never ends.

[Bruce]

Went to three of the Club World Cup games (so far). FIFA's changes have been mostly for the worse, beginning with no outside drinks or empty bottles allowed (and no designated driver program inside). The stadium PA switched to someone who butchers tons of player names and interrupts fan-driven moments, like chants and songs, which is very annoying and ruins the atmosphere. The ticket prices and timing of the games is definitely driving down attendance sadly; if these games had been planned reasonably, Lumen Field would be fully packed.

That said, the games have been enjoyable and there has been a great fan atmosphere. Urawa's fans in particular were loud and well-organized, really driving the tempo of the game.

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Botafogo









River Plate vs. Urawa Red Diamonds

[JayhawkCO]

Liverpool star and Portuguese international Diogo Jota died in a car accident overnight. Super sad. Great player and just got married 11 days ago. Had three kids with his widow as well.

[bing101]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2025/07/03/diogo-jota-dies-liverpool/84456269007/


Yes and one of their rising stars has left the way he did. 

[CoreySamson]

Absolutely brutal finish for my Oral Roberts University men's soccer team today. Down 1-0 heading into the final minute, all this happens...

- ORU winger sends in a cross, and the striker heads in the equalizer with 22 seconds left in the game (college soccer counts down instead of up in the US for some reason)
- Goal is counted offside
- Offside call goes to VAR
- Referee, upon coming back from VAR, points for a goal, reversing the decision
- Ref goes over to the sidelines and disallows the goal
- ORU loses 1-0 as a result

I think the ref must've pointed to the wrong spot upon coming back from the review. You can't be making those kind of mistakes at the college level, speaking as a former US grassroots referee.

[NWI_Irish96]

The September international wrapped up with several more teams clinching World Cup berths. The US, having automatically qualified as a host, split a pair of friendlies with South Korea and Japan, both of whom had already wrapped up their own WC berths.

With the three North American teams qualifying automatically, CONCACAF lacks big names in qualification for the other three spots. After the first two matchdays of the final round, Jamaica is joined by surprise group leaders Suriname and Honduras,

In CONMEBOL, the double round robin is complete, with Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay and Brazil wrapping up berths and Bolivia advancing to the inter-confederation playoffs in March.

In UEFA, Norway is in a good position to get their first WC berth since 1998, which would mean the World Cup debut of the game's premier goal scorer, Eriling Haaland. Perhaps the most surprising group leader right now is North Macedonia.

CAF has a lot of familiar names topping their groups thus far, with the lone exception being Cape Verde, who needs one win in their last two to book their first ever berth.

AFC has already booked tickets for Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Japan and Australia. In October, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Indonesia will battle for the final two direct berths and the inter-confederation playoff spot.

OFC has long since finished their qualification, with New Zealand getting the direct berth and New Caledonia getting the inter-confederation playoff spot.

In total, there are 18 of the 48 spots already secured. Several more should fall in October, with all of the rest save the two inter-confederation playoff spots to be secured in November.