finalissima Italy 0-3 Argentina: Lautaro Martinez, Angel Di Maria and Paulo Dybala seal Finalissima glory | Daily Mail Online
Future LAFC defender of the year candidate Giorgio Chiellini's final game for Italy. A bit inauspicious, given he was subbed at the half after Italy conceded twice before the break.
Ukraine put in a great performance Wednesday beating Scotland 3-1. The first goal scored by Yarmolenko was brilliant, he took the ball down similar to Pulisic in the game against Morocco but instead of passing it, he lifted it over the keeper into the goal. Ukraine's goal keeper looked a little shaky at times but otherwise I was impressed with how well the entire team played. Scotland didn't look dangerous except for a brief spell about half-way through the second half but by then they were already down 2-0. Ukraine go to Wales on Sunday to decide their WC fate. I would love to see Ukraine in the WC but I'm not sure I want to play them in the WC.
Wales qualify for world cup Gareth Bale leads brilliant rendition of Yma o Hyd as Wales stars brimming with pride and emotion (msn.com) YMA O HYD BELTED OUT BY DAFYDD IWAN AND WALES FANS | Watch (msn.com) Dafydd Iwan's epic rendition of Yma o Hyd brings the house down at Wales v Ukraine but fans fume over ITV and Sky Sports TV no-show - Wales Online
Socceroos win intercontinental playoff Australia vs Peru World Cup play-off final: Live score, team news and updates | Daily Mail Online
Socceroos on PKs to boot. Tomorrow we find out if Costa Rica beats New Zealand for that WC spot also. Ticos are favorites last time I checked. 11 am on Telemundo and Fox Sports 2.
Costa Rica is in the World Cup, so far. 1-0 at the half on a very early goal but New Zealand has found their bearings and are coming back strong. Kiwi goal disallowed on review late in the half. It's game on!
Everybody will be overjoyed Costa Rica is in the WC. Long turn-around for the Ticos that had a very iffy qualifying run and was unlike them. Their coach turned a bit toward their youth and it payed off by the skin of their teeth. Final score, 1-0. They are in group E with Germany, Japan and Spain. Yep, nobody in Conca got a free ride when it comes to groups. We gonna have to earn our way out of group play. Good luck to everybody!
It's unfortunate that Oceania doesn't have a team in the World Cup this year. The FIFA World Cup should always have a representative from every FIFA confederation. CONCACAF's fourth representative comes at the expense of Oceania's. That said, I feel that CONCACAF is on the rise. I would be thrilled to see at least two of our teams advance to the Round of 16.
Oceania will get a full berth starting 2026 WC. So the Kiwis should feel good as they are maybe by far the strongest team in OSF what with Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga etc. in that federation.
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood among venues selected to host 2026 World Cup matches World Cup 2026 stadiums: SoFi Stadium among the venues - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)
According to the FOX broadcast, a few of the venues were decided on the final day. I wonder if SoFi was one of them based on the following: According to this April 4th article, FIFA officials stated that SoFi Stadium does not meet the requirements necessary to stage a soccer game and is too narrow by 63 feet. Now that SoFi has been selected as a venue, I'm sure Stan Kroenke and his crew will come up with an elegant solution, particularly if he wants his venue to host a semifinal.
Inglewood’s win is Pasadena’s loss as city of ’94 World Cup men’s final falls short in 2026 bid (msn.com)
So many of these US venues have turf. I will save my money but those tickets are hard as hell to get. They'll probably lottery the damn things again and I will get NONE of the true matches I want to watch and have to settle for a far away venue I didn't want to attend.
All I know is I saw the US beat Colombia in Pasadena in '94 so part of me is sorry there isn't a game there this time, for nostalgia reasons.
I'm a stone throws away from the Rose Bowl, so I'm a bit bummed that it is not a venue, it would have been nice to go mingle with the crowd and soak in the atmosphere
Just paid an arm and a leg to watch Real Madrid play Juventus on July 30th because I absolutely miss watching soccer at the Rose Bowl. Im a few miles away too, and I love the atmosphere and vibe of game day at the Rose Bowl.
Clearly they were more interested in the fancy, high-tech new stadiums. Easier to bring it real grass and widen a field slightly than it is to build 300 fancy new suites and huge video screens and stylish new roofs and sight-lines....