2026 WC USA (et al): Worldwide Opponents Watch [all R's]

Pretty big decision coming for FIFA.

South Africa fielded a player against Lesotho who was supposed to be suspended for yellow cards. However, Lesotho took longer than the given 24 hours you're typically given to file a complaint.


Question now is whether or not FIFA will overturn that result which would massively shift the dynamics of the group, or if they'll just give South Africa a fine

 

Didn't Qatar and Iraq have some controversy like this way back in 2009 but the result wasn't turned over as Iraq didn't file the complaint in time? Also I wonder if there'd every be a scenario where a team just needs to avoid a 4 goal defeat to qualify but are like 5 goals down and then throw an ineligible player on to get the result voided to a 3-0 loss.... highly unlikely but a reason FIFA should stick to the standards. Anway, we'll see what gets dedided...

 

Africa is comically deeper than Asia, the way they did the distribution was wrong. Africa should've gotten 2 more additional slots vs Asia, from my perspective. Probably trying to tee up the ratio so that when they expand to 64 teams China has a much better chance.

The AFC qualifying is *very* forgiving this cycle.

 

AFC could have used a more cut throat qualifying system but instead they prefer to use a system where the cream floats to the top. They had a nine group second round and if they stopped there then the following teams would have qualified with a best 7 winners + a playoff between the two worst winners

Qatar
Japan
South Korea
Iran
Iraq
UAE
Australia

Playoff

Oman v Jordan

If we used the round 3 matches between the playoff teams then Jordan would hold a 4 goal lead going to the second leg in Oman. The winner would qualify and the loser go to the playoffs. In this scenario there would be no Uzbekistan or Saudi Arabia. I think I prefer how AFC go about qualifying than how CAF does it.

 

Wow that is huge, and I wonder what in the hell South Africa was doing. It's freaking Lesotho, not even a third tier side in CAF, they were a Pot 6 side this cycle. It was totally unnecessary. To put in jeopardy a 6 point window that put them more than 5 points ahead of the next best side?!?!?! What in the hell.

 

Bayern Munich are furious with Canada Soccer.

In separate comments on Friday, #FCBayern's CEO and sporting director each accused the CSA of gross negligence over Alphonso Davies' ACL injury. #CanMNT

"We expressly reserve the right to take legal action."https://t.co/C6X9Yqn36C

— Canadian Soccer Daily (@CANSoccerDaily) March 28, 2025

Bayern are not happy with Canada but the Athletic reporting would indicate they did nothing wrong. It feels like they are mostly just mad he tore his ACL in a third place game. But I’ve yet to see evidence Canada played him knowing he was already injured.

 

Davies had a hamstring injury going into camp. But it hadn't prevented Bayern from playing him leading into the Nations League. I don't see how that played a measurable role in an ACL injury. They are upset he was hurt, but to call the match "a match of no sporting significance" shows how wildly out of touch they are with the international game. It was literally our last competitive match before the World Cup. If they think a match with the US with both teams best squads (well as good as injuries allow) is not a sporting contest, they're being willfully ignorant.

The irony for me is that if the Club World Cup didn't exist, Davies would be playing in the Gold Cup this summer, that would be a much more significant tournament rather than the afterthought it's going to be and I think it's much less likely Davies would have played Sunday. This injury won't be mentioned in the context of the Club World Cup, but the knock-on effect of this dumb tournament could end up being pretty large.

In terms of the 'negligence' I am curious what Bayern wanted to happen. Because I am not a doctor and I don't know what you're supposed to do with an ACL tear, but if it's torn, it's torn right? Even if the extent of the injury was determined before the flight home... was Davies not going to fly back to Germany for the surgery with Bayern's medical team? Did they want him to stay in North America? Did they want him to wait to have the surgery and not fly back right away? I assume he was getting on a 12-hour flight to Germany regardless.

South Korea manager Hong Myung-bo accused Bayern Munich of negligence in how they've looked after Kim Min-jae... so I wonder if that played a bit of a role in how much bluster Bayern is directing towards Canada Soccer.

 

There were people on this board saying that was "a match of no sporting significance."


From Bayern's point of view, I get it. They just signed him to a new long-term contract, and he blows out his knee in a 3rd place CONCACAF Nations League game. They're mad. Its all 20/20 hindsight because he got hurt. If a USMNTer like Pulisic or Adams had gotten a serious injury in that game, we'd also be getting criticism from his club right now. That's just the way it goes in this club versus country tug of war.

...................but I have yet to see any evidence that the CSA or Marsch did anything wrong.

 

Yup. The problem is these players are being asked to play too many games and more keep getting piled on.

 

That has to be why so many players are injured now. I'd expect teams to start monitoring even more because as much as sitting player for important games is missing them for a month or two because you didn't rest them is worse.

 

Particularly at the bigger clubs where Bayern plays so many games with all the competitions. Things have been pushed past the breaking point.

But neither the club game nor FIFA wants to back down because it will cost them money.

 

Seems like managers can be fired if they don't perform

🚨 BREAKING: Brazil have fired Dorival Junior following 4-1 defeat vs Argentina.

He’s no longer the head coach as Brazil are now looking for new manager with immediate effect. 💣🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/G9Nj2GxgUy

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 28, 2025

 

He was always a stop gap solution who took the job because they couldn’t get anyone they wanted to say yes.

 

My co-workers in Brazil were convinced for like two years that Ancelotti was coming lol


Iran?

🚨 U.S Soccer have sent a letter to the Iranian football federation congratulating them on qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

This comes after rumours that the USA will not host any Iran games due to political reasons. pic.twitter.com/GnBhD2MtE7

— Arya (@Twenty9United) March 28, 2025

 

Remember Herdman... "admonishment" lol

Independent Disciplinary Committee Releases Decision on John Herdman.https://t.co/O4FVQteDP0

— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) March 29, 2025

 

CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez made an official proposal on Thursday to expand the men's 2030 World Cup from 32 teams to 64.

For more ⬇️ https://t.co/1CFTX56Hop

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 10, 2025

 

Addendum to that announcement must be 8 slots for Conmebol lol.

W/regards to the Iran news, there are some news bits bubbling out about negotiations begining to warm between the current admin and Iran, so maybe that's of a piece w/that.

 

Ancelotti to Brazil it sounds like

Carlo Ancelotti is expected to leave Real Madrid with the Brazil national team his most likely destination.

More from @MarioCortegana and @David_Ornstein ⬇️

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) April 19, 2025

 

That's something that will definitely raise an eyebrow...

 

Ancelotti to Brazil official

🚨🇧🇷 OFFICIAL: Brazil confirm Carlo Ancelotti will become the new head coach of the Seleçao.

Contract sealed, Ancelotti will leave Real Madrid and lead the Seleçao to the 2026 World Cup. pic.twitter.com/ovmbPGJGf8

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 12, 2025

 

Just curious but if Ancelotti wins the World Cup with Brazil, would he cement his place as the greatest manager ever? Maybe sounds a bit hyperbolic but it would mean 5 champions leagues with 2 different clubs, league titles in the big 5 leagues (mind you some of those titles were with the biggest guns), but a World Cup to boot would definitely give him a fair shout I'd think...

 

I'd put him second behind Arteta

 

He's sort of silently built a real case. Everyone drools over Pep but his record in finals is actually kind of poor and he usually coaches the team with the biggest payroll in every league he's coached.

 

ancelotti almost always manages the team with the biggest payroll also?