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

Yes...lol Sports is the only time I actively wish for someone's livelihood to be destroyed in asking for a coach to be fired or a player to be dropped or waived. Monsters sports make us...ha

 

I have a strong dislike for Ronaldo, however because he chose the Saudi blood money, out of sight out of mind, so he isn't a blip on my radar during the season and only when he is on the national team do I hear of him.

same goes for Maradona, dude is only famous because he cheated and got away with it and people glorified it

he was a drunk and drug addict, cheated on his taxes among other things, I was a bit annoyed the doctors that treated him were tried as murderers, when this dude was the catalyst for his death, yeah the doctors are guilty of malpractice but the damage was already by the time they got to him,yet he was still treated like a saint

 

I wouldn't even consider myself a monster, these dudes get fired, cut released and they'll still make more money in a few years than I'll make in my lifetime, of course there is exceptions like the minor league players that chase that dream to be in the majors for one day.

 

England really doesn't start to cook till they reach the PK stages of tournaments, its when they really shine

and the bias against England fans is egregious, they get kicked out of bars for drinking too much, while the Scots drink Boston dry and they're celebrated

 

dude was beloved and quoted all the time, had his breakdown and came back the complete opposite of what he was, his reversal in attitude should be studied

 

The England-Croatia game was fun. England has too much firepower to be denied, but 4-2 shows Croatia (and MLS's Petar Musa) have some firepower of their own. The coaches who play not to concede have been relegated this World Cup.

 

Hard to believe that Carlos Harvey, who we gave away for nothing, is starting for Panama in the World Cup against Ghana.

🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Panama XI in the World Cup vs Ghana! 🇵🇦💫 pic.twitter.com/9AkBTLnhH9

— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) June 17, 2026

 

The hope can’t kill you if you have none

Currently, for a variety of reasons, I am emotionally detached from the tournament. I suspect if England and/or the US creep closer to a meaningful result I will get sucked back in to hoping so the disappointment is maximized to near weapons grade effectiveness.

 

things I gathered from these past couple of days,

Messi is god, Ronaldo is washed and a detriment to Portugal and fans are tired of having games stopped for hydration breaks in the middle of rain storms and the English drinking a town dry is bad and Scots drinking a town dry is marvelous

 

Seen online: "There's too many non-European, bad teams teams in this World Cup. Quality blah blah blah."

First match with two Euro teams (Swiss v. Bosnia): completely unwatchable.

 

Guess we'll see if the Mex v S. Korea match, in LA no less, will deliver on the hype it's created.

 

Not to be too picky, but it's being played in Estadio Akron or as it is being called for the World Cup: Estadio Guadalajara.

 

You are right! See, the hype got to me...lol Thank you!

 

I only saw the box-score but 5 goals in the last 16 minutes must have been mildly entertaining

 

First half was brutal.

Hard to believe Bosnia kept Italy from qualifying.

 

speaking of Italy, I have a friend that only follows soccer for the world cup and he could not understand how Italy was not in the World Cup but countries like Curacao, DR Congo and Cape Verde made it, and I really couldn't explain it to his satisfaction

 

Last 16 minutes were pretty incredible - 5 goals and all the non-PK ones were brilliant, plus a bicycle kick before that with a fantastic save over the bar. Even Bosnia's consolation goal was a banger out of nowhere.

 

Match has been kind of a sn0-0zer. B0-0s deserved.

 

Howler by the SK keeper.