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

Pirso had also been out for a long time with a hamstring problem.

Came back to play 16 minutes in the Whitecaps' final game before the window.

So he wasn't exactly match fit either.

 

It was announced a day or two ago that Bombito was not going to be on the roster and was to be replaced by Ralph Priso.

Now, suddenly, Bombito is on the roster and poor Ralph Priso is not. I'm just playing a little with Jesse's obsession that he was "told he had the USMNT job" and then it was pulled ... a lot like poor Ralph Priso.

 

My Group Stage Picks

A:
Mexico
South Korea
Czech-Advance as 3rd place team.
South Africa

B:
Switzerland
Canada
Bosnia
Qatar

C:
Brazil
Morocco
Scotland-Advance as 3rd place team.
Haiti

D:
USA
Turkey
Australia-Advance as 3rd place team
Paraguay

E:
Germany
Ivory Coast
Ecuador-Advance as third place team
Curacao

F:
Netherlands
Japan
Sweden-Advance as third place team
Tunisia

G:
Belgium
Egypt
Iran
New Zealand

H:
Spain
Uruguay
Cape Verde
S. Arabia

I:
France
Norway
Senegal-Advance as third place team
Iraq

J:
Argentina
Algeria
Austria-Advance as a third place team
Jordan

K:
Colombia
Portugal
DR Congo-Advance as a third place team
Uzbekistan

L:
England
Croatia
Ghana
Panama

 

Brian Gutierrez starting for Mexico in opening World Cup game.

¡ALINEACIÓN OFICIAL! 🚨

Este es nuestro primer XI en la Copa del Mundo.

Listos para darlo todo.
¡Vamos, vamos, vamos! 🫶#SomosMéxico pic.twitter.com/UF47hYo9nk

— Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) June 11, 2026

 

The day has arrived where a ussoccer product is starting for Mexico in the WC.

Says a lot in my opinion.

Both about the state of ussoccer and Mexican soccer.

 

Guty is a very good player.......would have been nice to have him, but obviously things are going better for him with mexico.

 

I am shocked to see him start for Mexico...He should be ours. Either way I am happy for him.

 

I'm not sure Pepi and Zendejas wouldn't be starting too if they'd picked Mexico.

 

If we had denied Thomas Partey entry, these exact same people would be screaming about that.

 

When they start Raul it’s harder to hate them (for me). But I think I will be able.

 

I think it's more interesting that Gilberto Mora is not starting, though perhaps with his age, he's due to be rotated.

I also wouldn't be shocked to see Mora and Gutierrez not share the field as much as they did in friendlies.

Of the more ... high volume? obsessive? ... posters on here, I was probably Gutierrez' #2 cheerleader, but the only place he was ever going to play for us positionally was the one currently occupied by Pulisic and commonly played by Tillman or Aaronson or Diego Luna.

He's nowhere near Pulisic's class and he's probably not better than Tillman at basically anything (and quite a bit worse at other things). You can make an argument on relative strengths against Brenden or Luna, but I would pick both over him in total.

I'm happy for him -- this must be amazing. He's a very nice offensive player and in a style I like -- dude is a passer and a combiner. But he's not a good defender -- one of the reasons the Fire sold him -- and while I've heard the effort has improved in Mexico, it's never going to be good.

That means his offense needs to justify his positioning, and that means he's going to be a creative focal point. There's just a limit to that. And quite a few teams are going to struggle with his defense in central midfield and his lack of pace or dribbling at winger.

Ironically, his style of play fits the Poch LW-as-CAM pretty well, but I imagine the defensive effort at Chicago doomed him.

 

Mexican fans already chanting "Ole" for passing it back from the kickoff...

 

First 5 minutes full of action

 

Well, South Africa is terrible. What was that?

 

South Africa is so bad lmao

 

And the guy I would've started Zendejas over just scored lol

 

Completely unnecessary give away 1-0 MEX

 

Nice high press leads to SA turnover to first goal of WC

 

Great pressing by Mexico so far but that was just inexcusable.

 

Soccer needs to revert to keepers just booting the goal kick.

 

WPIOOTBGW

 

Looks like ref is equipped with ear's camera, not used with recent international friendlies.

 

South Africa is ranked 43 of 48 teams by the Ringer.

They are just a bad side.

 

Quinones tries for 2nd one...a little selfish there