2026 FIFA World Cup

[Boone]

A historic US-hosted World Cup begins today. Will our men's national team step up and make some noise as is not uncommon for the host country's team? How interested in the worlds most popular sport - will you watch? I will admit I have been a little hesitant to get my hopes up for our guys after so many disappointments so I am not entirely emotionally invested. I prefer to just enjoy the matches for what they are.

Here are the current 'favorites' per AI:

The Favorites

• Spain: +450 to +475
• France: +475 to +500
• England: +650 to +700
• Brazil: +800 to +950
• Portugal: +850 to +900
• Argentina: +900 to +1000

Other Contenders

• Germany: +1300 to +1400
• Netherlands: +1600 to +2000
• Belgium: +2200 to +4000
• Norway: +2500 to +3300

 

[gbear2]

That was as good a start as we could hope for with a 4-1 win. That was everything the US has lacked in the past w the ability to attack with some creativity and mostly lock down the opposition's attack. We still seem to make a goof ball mis step at least once a game, but i will take it over all orevuous team's inability to make the quick passes out of the back into transition.

 

[Canadian Hog]

Typically, I am fully invested in the World Cup.

As a 10 year old, during World Cup 1990 (hosted by Italy), my father instilled a passion in me for the Italian National soccer team that is only matched by my love of the Redskins. I have watched every World Cup tournament since and have lived and died by the Azzurri. I've experienced it all - the heartbreaks, crushing defeats, tears of pain/joy, exhilarating victories, and finally achieving the pinnacle - witnessing Italy win the World Cup in 2006. If I had to rank my favourite World Cups of all-time, I would say 2006 in Germany, 1990 in Italy, and 1994 in the United States. It was soccer at it's finest in all three instances.

The World Cup has been painful for me during the last three cycles, with Italy missing three successive competitions. It's lost that special feel without them in it, but there is no denying that it is must-watch sports. I'm casually hoping for Canada to do well, but I quite simply don't have passion and connectedness to the team that I feel when I watch the Italians - I was born into a household where the Italian National Soccer Team was a religion and there was no escaping it.

As long as Portugal do not win the World Cup, I will consider it a successful one.

Good luck to the United States - I hope they make a good run.

 

[Canadian Hog]

Unreal result today with Cabo Verde holding Spain to a 0-0 draw. 8 shots on target, 23 total shots, 62% ball possession, 11 corners, and they could not find a way to put one in the net. A monumental result for Cabo Verde and a moment that will be forever remembered by that nation. This is what I love about the World Cup - every time there seem to be some smaller nations that surprise and fill their nations with pride. There was Cameroon in 1990, Bulgaria in ‘94, Croatia in ‘98, Korea and Turkey in 2002. The list goes on and on…

Who is going to be that team to put their name on the map this year?

 

[Neophyte]

Who else is watching the USA v AUS?

Nicely forced early OG.

I've opened up the BGO Chatroom for anyone who wants to watch the match "as a group".

 

[gbear2]

I thoroughly enjoyed that game. This is the team i hoped we had previous world cups. We are a long way from being favored to make it past the firsr or second knock out round game, but at least with this group it isnt just crazy talk.

I did find it ingeresting the U.S. has benefited from more own goals than any other country in the history of the World Cup with 5. I still remember the crazy Columbia own goal.

The own goal yesterday though was what i used to think of as a forced own goal rather than a fluke own goal when i played. The ball was going in if he didnt try to stop it. It going off him last is just something for the stat sheet.

 

[Boone]

The effort in both of the first 2 matches was just off the chart great. This is really an easy team to root for.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

This reminds me of the 1980 Olympic Hockey Team. Only I knew and followed hockey more than I do soccer. But I'm onboard for this ride. Now we essentially play a friendly before advancing. So fun.

 

[Canadian Hog]

You have to give credit to Cape Verde for their amazing accomplishments at this year’s World Cup. With a population of just over 500000, they go out and get draws in all three games, with two coming against former champions Spain and Uruguay, and qualify for the knockout stages. On top of that, their coach, Bubista, rocks a pair of jeans on the sidelines. This has to be the coolest story in the history of the World Cup. Will they follow the path of Italy in 1982, with draws in all three group stage matches, and then go on to win the World Cup? Imagine.

 

[Canadian Hog]

We have witnessed history today with 4-time champion, Germany, losing in a penalty shootout for the first time ever in a World Cup. What an unreal result for Paraguay and one that will go down in the history books for that nation.

 

[Boone]

I felt that red card last night on Balogun was a really bad call. It's true that you can get a red card by rule even if a major foul is not 'intentional' if the foul could cause major injury, but in this case, the two players were going after the ball got tangled up and lost their balance. When you are falling as Balogun was, there is no way to fully control your body or where your leg comes down. Gravity and the force of your own fall is going to dictate that. He did 'rake' his cleats down the other player's leg and step on his ankle as he came down, but there was no way for him to avoid it. I think the referee agreed with me and that's why he let play go on until VAR got involved. That call put the outcome in serious jeopardy and now the US has to play it's next match minus it's top goal scorer.

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I felt that red card last night on Balogun was a really bad call. It's true that you can get a red card by rule even if a major foul is not 'intentional' if the foul could cause major injury, but in this case, the two players were going after the ball got tangled up and lost their balance. When you are falling as Balogun was, there is no way to fully control your body or where your leg comes down. Gravity and the force of your own fall is going to dictate that. He did 'rake' his cleats down the other player's leg and step on his ankle as he came down, but there was no way for him to avoid it. I think the referee agreed with me and that's why he let play go on until VAR got involved. That call put the outcome in serious jeopardy and now the US has to play it's next match minus it's top goal scorer.

Yeah I agreed with the guys in the post game. If it was called on the field that would have been different but to review it and then make it a red card was rough.

So was the penalty that took away what looked like a game winning goal for Germany against Paraguay.

 

[Canadian Hog]

While I agree 100 percent with you, John - there was no ill intent on the part of Balogun and it is next to impossible for him to control his leg as it was coming down - the problem is that once VAR got involved, it is hard not to go with the red card call at that point simply because of the optics of the foul. By that, I mean it looked really bad whether intentional or not. However, I would understand the outrage on the part of any US fan. It’s a tough one to swallow, especially given the importance of Balogun to the team going forward. I am cheering for your team vs. Belgium.

As an aside, it is amazing we have come to point where we have 3 North American teams in the Round of 16 for the first time ever. I remember my first ever experience watching the World Cup in 1990 in Italy. The US was in Italy’s group and they were a minnow at the time. Canada at that point was irrelevant in soccer. How far we have all come that North America is now standing among European and South American soccer giants.

 

[gbear2]

The call hurts, but wasnt wrong. Part of the problemas understand it, was once var was making the alert tonthe ref, it was either a red or nothing. It certainly deserved a yellow, but that's not going to happen a a result of a var challenge. By the rules, what happened was a red card when watched in slow motion and still frames. The red was the outcome closer to justice and far easier to defend. I hate it, but the red was probably the "good call."

 

[gbear2]

The best part though was this team didnt fold up and concede. That was a long time to be downa man, and yet we were still attacking and ultimately scored again. Now they have to show no one player defines our program, and play their brand against another European team. I think the way they played down a man said more about them deserving to be in the top 20 teams in the world than anything they have done in my life time. I always thought the rankings had us far too high. Now i believe.

 

[Boone]

This is what I am trying to say

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[burgold]

Can red cards be appealed? It just didn’t look malicious to me

 

[gbear2]

Cant be appealed. It is unfortunate, but hopefully it will be a rallying point. Great teams overcome. This is just another test.

 

[Canadian Hog]

Brutal ending for Croatia last night vs. Portugal.

 

[Chris]

Balogun’s red card has been suspended by FIFA. He can play vs Belgium.