P/I/P: 2026 World Cup Watch Thread (Non-USA games)

Great game because I won a whopping $45! I bet $10 on England to win before pks after they went up 1-0, getting 4.5 to 1. Wheeeee!!

 

That was a fun watch for me. I have decided which player I want on the Galaxy and it’s Michael Olise. Make it happen, FO.

 

One of the best things about that game was how much fun the announcers were having. Fletcher and Hargreaves, I think? They were over the top sometimes, and I can do without the NFL references, but overall funny and enthusiastic. They were roasting France in the first half.

 

I was watching Telemundo. Understood every 15th word or so, but same.

 

Im on a 565 day Duolingo Spanish streak so I can understand every 12th word. Great progress for me - should be fluent in the year 2160.

 

I'm sorry, but this is shameless.

Someone asked me who I thought would win this match and I said if the officiating is fair, it will be a win for Spain. At 30 minutes in, this is already a joke. No yellows shown to Argentina for a clear tactical foul on Olmo and Yamal, or McAllister's intentional handball, which is basically just a thing Argentina does now. It's clear everyone's in on it, because the announcers are either ignoring it, making excuses or even PRAISING it, instead of asking why there's no call.

As early as the 8th minute a proimsing give-go was disrupted with a foul and the foul wasn't even given, let alone being given an automatic yellow, which is the norm.

 

Meanwhile, the "foul" given on Messi:

No toquen a Lionel Messi... todas serán falta.

Esto es falta?

España vs Argentina #FIFAWorldCup #España #ArgentinaVsEspaña pic.twitter.com/sGdrGRBwA2

— Edinson Villamizar | Sports Psychologist (@jedinsonvr) July 19, 2026

 

Ref is reluctant to give yellows in a final and rightly so. Fans want to see this most important game decided on the field 11-on-11, not spoiled by a 2-yellow ejection. Policy happens to benefit Argentina because Argentina is chasing ball more and therefore making more tactical fouls. Not a conspiracy.

IMO the game has been very clean, well played and well officiated. Little grabs and bumps are nothing compared to the out of control crap that went on in several past WC finals.

 

The foul was given for the previous clear shoulder grab that slowed Messi’s breakaway. Ref gave advantage for a few seconds and called the foul when advantage didn’t materialize. Textbook high-quality reffing.

 

If you want to talk about a real crime - talk about adding super bowl schlock halftime crap to a WC Final.

 

Respectfully -- WTF are you talking about?

Still can't believe there was no yellow card here. Argentina is really fifa favorite.#WorldCupFinal #ESPARG pic.twitter.com/65Irto3kSh

— chiabotu (@OGSTANLEY05) July 19, 2026

MacAllister had a similar foul on Yamal that stopped a promising attack and also had an intentional handball and somehow escaped the half without a yellow. That makes no sense. This game would be more entertaining if Spain were allowed to play and they would probably be winning. This is not about not spoiling the game, this is refereeing that clearly emboldens one side and puts the other at risk of injury. Where a yellow card will force Argentina to be more cautious, a good outcome -- no yellow forces Spain to be more cautious. It doesn't "happen" to benefit Argentina because everyone knows that's how they play. It's a blatant advantage for them.

And this has been happening all. Tournament. Long.

 

A soccer game broke out at a concert.

 

Gets turned in space and kicks Yamal in the calf to bring him down. Boys will be boys though right? Just a little extra spunk. No VAR nothing?

2078935155528634463 is not a valid tweet id

 

LOL. See how emboldened they are? Shoving Spanish players right in front of the ref. Use your brains, this is not normal.

And of course here's Holden making excuses for it like a bitch. "Oh, he just came in so he's probably been told to be aggressive." Yeah and shove a player in the back off the ball? Then PUSH his teammates right by the ref? How is that showing aggression? That should be TWO yellow cards.

 

Shouldn't that have been a 2nd yellow?

 

Well me agreeing with Stu is awkward but in this case I really do. And the Argentina player did get a yellow for the back shove. You think he should have been tossed for that?

 

Meanwhile some great soccer being played by Spain!

 

I'm saying he made two yellow card worthy infractions within minutes of coming on; one RIGHT by the ref.

 

I’m beginning to think Spain might be the better team.

 

LOL Romero gets a yellow card and he’s been on the bench for 20 minute. He’s still Tottenham’s captain, but there’s not much love lost between him and the club. Basically had to be guilt tripped back from Argentina for Spurs relegation deciding game. Can’t wait to see the back of this bellend.

 

Ha ha I have to recant a little.

 

There should be a rule that a team loses if they don’t get a single shot on target in regulation.

 

My son told me that Spain is the best keep-away team in the world. And no, he wasn’t being complimentary- he was remarking how they can’t score.

Now they do. Maybe.

 

He stepped on his foot and it was a foul. As far as I can recall these have only been called after Argentina gives up a goal.