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

It's not the same. It may be uncomfortable, but it's not like what, say, Nigeria has to face when playing Ghana, or Germany having to play Serbia, or Uruguay playing Brazil.

There's no all-night party outside your hotel, no bricks thrown at the bus, no crowds screaming bloody murder and remembering wars from 200 years ago.

 

With the way the US Mexico border is going, you may be seeing that scenario a lot sooner than you think...

 

Was just gonna say let’s get a USA mexico home and away series of friendliest at Juarez and El Paso. It’ll build character

 

None of that happens during a World Cup either however. And if you played a Gold Cup in Honduras for instance you wouldn’t get that for a game against another country. Honestly that sort of behavior has died down when it comes to away qualifiers as well.

 

Tajikistan are the Cinderella-story of the Asian Cup, must eliminated UAE in the round of 16 on penalties and go to the quarterfinals, pretty unbelievable! They are the only pot 4 team still alive other than Thailand after Indonesia lost to Australia. However, the Thais probably shouldn't have been there. They could well be the last pot 3/4 team remaining in a couple of days....

 

Best game of the tournament so far, end to end action for 120 minutes.

 

Iraq were up 2-1 on Jordan in the 90th minute.

Jordan scores twice in stoppage time to eliminate Iraq and advance to the quarterfinals.

 

I didn't see it. How in hell did the guy who scored the goal to make it two 1, get a 2nd yellow and get sent off (which probably contributed heavily to the 2 goals in 3 minutes melt down that ejected Iraq out of the tournament).

Please don't mention, btw, how I managed to lose multiple bets on Equatorial Guinea yesterday, including hedge parlays with the NFL playoffs (they miss a PK, and give up a 97th minute winner on the last kick of the game). Thank god I was snowboarding and not watching along.

 

That one forward they had would have never forgiven himself if they lost. Dude had like 5 chances to put it away in the 2nd half and couldn't finish any of them.

Today I had Iraq, winning 1-0, got that totally wrong.

Qatar winning.

Cape Verde ending Mauritania mini-fairy tale.

Senegal beating Ivory Coast.

 

Ivory Coast, though.

For all those people who say "the US always plays the Gold Cup at home and therefore has a huge advantage"..................it sure hasn't helped Ivory Coast. That 4-0 loss to Equitorial Guinea was shocking. I couldn't believe what I was watching. They're 88th in the World. Its one thing drawing or losing a tight game. That would be like the USMNT losing to Curacao 4-0 in the Gold Cup. It doesn't happen. Actually, the USMNT's record in the group stage is staggering. You'd think there's be a unlucky bounce or poor officiating decisions here or there. What have they.........lost one group stage game in history? Even when we send our B team, we don't lose games in the group stage 4-0 to teams as good as Jamaica, Canada, etc. The way Ivory Coast collapsed was truly shocking.

[As an aside, the number of red cards in these games is different than I'm used to seeing in international soccer. Maybe that was just this weekend.]

 

The difference though, is the US isn't going to have a team as good as Nigeria in the group stage. Also Equatorial Guinea is likely much better than their #88 ranking. Much better than Curacao, probably more like a Panama to be honest.

So you are looking at a group more like

USA, Mexico, Panama, El Salvador.

Could the US screw up a group like that even while hosting.

Definately.

 

Not as good as Nigeria.

But the US always plays somebody decent Costa Rica, Jamaica, Canada, etc.
You'd think over the years they'd lose a game here or there.

And even with a real reserve team, we don't lose games 4-0.

People were worried about that Jamaica game this year. And Jamaica did start a really strong lineup with Leon Bailey, Michail Antonio, and Demarai Gray as their forward line. 1-1 draw. [Just as a comparison, our forward line was Alex Zendejas, Jesus Ferreira, and Jordan Morris. Eeek. With the incomparable Alan Sonora starting as the #10.]

Maybe there's this REAL pressure on a team like Ivory Coast at home in a competition like AFCON. Meanwhile even the enthusiasm of US soccer fans for the Gold Cup is waning.

The way Ivory Coast capitulated late in that game against Equitorial Guinea was shocking.
The fans in the stands looked as heartbroken as when Brazil got destroyed in the World Cup at home.

 

That game was an aberration.

Much like the Germany Brazil match.

You could play that match again like 20 times and wouldn't get anything close to that result.

Everything went right for EG and everything went wrong for CIV. These things can happen in football.

But yeah CIV collapsed after the 2nd goal. They didn't need to start throwing the kitchen sink with 20 plus minutes left. They needed urgency sure, but still should have kept some shape.

 

Equatorial Guinea is 63rd in elo. I think that's probably more on point. Ivory Coast going in was a bit of a mess, supposedly a bunch of injuries, plenty of problems. That loss was nuts, but them not winning this thing wasn't too crazy a thought. Generally speaking Morocco and Senegal have been the favorites, Ivory Coast's angle was hosting, but I think most had them going out before the semi's. I was curious if Nigeria would wake up (so far, yes), and absolutely stunned that Algeria crashed out the way they did, and to a lesser degree, I thought Egypt had one more half decent run in them, but nope. Seems like confederation may belong to Nigeria, Senegal and Morocco this cycle (my prediction anyway). But I'm also excited for some of my tier 2/3 sides for the region that have always hinted at possibilities but never delivered (DR Congo, yes, Burkina Faso-not a great tourney so far, Zambia, going down in flames, and Mali, always at the edges, but never a champ, or a WC entrant, and my gosh is their jersey awesome!).

I also thought Cape Verde might surprise a little, but it sounds like Mauritania is putting up a good fight today.

 

I actually predicted CIV to win the tournament for a number of reasons.

1. They are host
2. I think they probably rank #3 in Africa ON PAPER
3. North African teams never win afcons in sub Sahara other than that great Egyptian dynasty (so there goes Morocco)
4. Back to back winners super rare, again other than the Egyptian dynasty (so there goes Senegal)

What I didn't bet on was Nigerias apparent resurgence. I thought there was a slim possibility of this, but I'm definately happy it's played out so far.

I think whoever wins today between Senegal/CIV, will make it to the final and likely play Nigeria.

Morocco looks really good at times, but have an inability to finish chances, which doesn't bode well going up against Nigerias air tight defence. Not only are we not giving up goals, we aren't even giving up chances, and with Osimehn in beast mode, I think we take down Morocco, but it will be a great match.

 

I've totally missed on Cape Verde, still a half hour plus potentially extensive injury time, but Mauritania, at least based on xG stat keeping, are playing the better soccer now in the second half which is something I just didn't see happening. Cape Verde, for a tiny little island (chain?) of the coast of West Africa has periodically gotten some nice results the past 10-15 years or so, and Muaritania has always seemed a punching bag, so I assumed, the miracle run would end today, whoops. I've got some bets potentially going down the drain today.

Moving forward from here, the bracket implies Nigeria or Morocco are a lock for the Finals. There just aren't any reasonable challengers left on that side (I cannot see Angola beating Nigeria, or Cape Verde/Mauritania beating Morocco-otoh, in fairness to Angola, they're having a nice little tournament so far. They went down a man, and then proceeded to beat the pi-- out of Namibia, I found that pretty impressive). On the other side, it's murkier, there's still a lot of strong teams left: Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast-only one makes it through, and then on the other side, you've got the upstarts Guinea and DR Congo.

Really fun tournament so far, but I've always been partial to CAF, so there's also that. Just very enjoyable to watch.

 

Cape Verde finds a goal late, so they move on. Senegal wasted no time, scored in the 4th minute to take an early lead,

 

Game #6 / Stadium #5 - Qatar v Palestine at Al Bayt Stadium... honestly, a much closer affair than I thought...

 

Watching the Mauritania-Cape Verde highlights, there's no doubt Cape Verde were the better side in the match, but what a brutal way to go out. Around the 81st minute, Mauritania get a break through, a player with just the goalie to beat but can't quite get the shot on frame (might have hit the post), then minutes later, a fullback or centerback not seeing the danger, heads it back to goalie, right into the path of a Cape Verde player, the goalie cuts him down and gives up the winner via penalty minutes later. Mauritania had a helluva tournament.

Ivory Coast found a penalty in the 86th to force extra time in the Senegal match. Really surprised Senegal couldn't find a 2nd after getting their early goal lead. Ouch. Now it's all up for debate in extra time. Knotted at 1-1 in the 98th minute, Extra Time.

 

You nailed Ivory Coast. I had Senegal winning this and winning the tournament. And they had it all, early 1-0 lead. Ivory Coast supposedly missing players. New coach for Ivory Coast because their previous guy was ---- canned after they finished 3rd, and then fluked into the knockouts. Ouch. It isn't exactly a reward (for winning a group) to get a traditional regional power, hosting, as your opponent. I bet there are a good 12 or 13 of 16 teams they would have rather faced. Otoh, no excuses. No way they should have lost today. 4th minute opener, rest of the game to add another, Ivory Coast doesn't bag anything until a penalty in the 86th. Ouch. Brutal.

This Cup is now wide open, and Nigeria, hmmmm,....

 

It was a perfect start for Senegal.

CIV wanted it more and kept possession and pressure, while Senegal sat back.

 

As for the final I'm guessing a CIV vs Nigeria rematch.

 

Looked like Senegal had at least a semi-legit call for a penalty denied so there's that. Looking at the bracket, I would assume Nigeria or Morocco comes out of there side, and probably Mali or Ivory Coast out of there's, but Burkina Faso could be a threat if they wake up. I'm always curious if DR Congo is going to bring it too. They've had moments the past decade where they looked impressive and they've been pretty good this tournament, but you'd have to think Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Mali and Morocco are the most talented teams left.

 

'South Korea with a deserved goal in 99' to tie Saudi Arabia. Now going to extra time. Also, i did not know Klinsi was coaching the Koreans.

 

South Korea won on penalties.

Klinsmann lives to see another day!