Luna with a start and a nice goal so far against Uruguay. It's a really hard to know what to expect from this USMNT. The last run of games has been very encouraging, though.
It makes me incredibly happy to see good performances with the primadona players sitting out. Right now none of Pulisic, McKennie, or Adams should start
Kind of RSL related. 🇧🇷 FIFA officially hit Botafogo with a transfer ban for failing to pay Atlanta United for 2024 transfer of Thiago Almada- Botafogo needs to pay ATL $22.5m to remove ban (initial $21m fee + $1.5m interest)- Botafogo still owes ATL another $9m in add-ons https://t.co/AiFRg8tKjn— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) December 31, 2025
Wilfried Nancy was fired after 36 days in charge at Celtic. In other news, RSL still only has 1 assistant coach with players reporting this weekend.
I don't know if he really wants to be in MLS, but I will continue to state that this is one way RSL can punch above their weight. There are no limits on coaching compensation, exploit that. Get a high quality coach, that has a system that works, develops players and still manages to win more than they lose. He will win at a high level if given just a few more resources, too.
Celtic are a dumpster fire. The only saving grace is Nancy is getting 2.5 years of salary on 33 days work
The whole situation with Nancy was a mess. Celtic hired him because of his rigid structure and style of play, knew it would take time for Nancy to get the team playing the way he wanted, and then got rid of him after 8 games. Nancy didn't help his case by dropping so many games and not adjusting to his roster's strengths. Does this impact Nancy's coaching options moving forward? Does he drop to a lower European league team and work his way back up? You can't blame him for jumping to play at a high profile club, but that's a rough patch on the resume.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-next-pro-and-mls-rule-officially-adopted-into-laws-of-the-game I'm catching up after being mostly unplugged for the last week. Very cool to see MLS leading innovation in the game.
Anyone here going to any WC games? This latest story is the worst of a long line of bad stuff from FIFA. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7175652/2026/04/08/world-cup-tickets-fans-stadium-seating-map/ Sorry, don't know how to add the non paywall link.
On the one hand, I’m sad to say I won’t go. I have yet to attend a World Cup despite it being a goal of mine since watching the 94 World Cup. Life has a way of always getting in the way and reminding me that it’s the most important of unimportant things… On the other hand, I am happy to say I won’t contribute to in person attendance at this shambles. The number of tickets sold suggest it won’t happen, but it would be sweet justice to see half empty stadiums after this debacle. I do hope Mother Nature affects games - especially the final - and fifa gets the PR disaster they so desperately deserve with how this has all played out, I actually think anyone going deserves a shit show experience. FIFA isn’t hiding any of their corruption or greed - especially in the states - and those dumb enough to still attend should get what the paid for
I can't say that going to a WC game has been or is a life long goal for me but I totally understand why it is for many. I will be watching for sure but the thought of being part of the this massive grift has me feeling exactly the same. I am more excited to go watch games locally with fans than I would be getting to a game. I am a creature of convenience, not that I wouldn't go but, the travel, the cost, the parking, the greed and corruption, all just really turn me off. FIFA cowering, placating, and abusing a sick individual for gain is off putting and hilarious all at the same time. All that being said, my thoughts on attending a game were to wait and see how all the drama unfolds and if ticket prices plummet than yea, I might jump in, but I'm not spending multiple thousands of dollars to go.
I gave a campus talk yesterday on the "Political Aspects of Hosting International Sporting Events." I've studied all the big ones, and this one is . . . special in its own way. The final question was about attendance and what I recommend for how to get tickets; I suggested watching it with friends at a local watering hole as the best approach.
I've heard of people talking about just vacationing in the area that the games will be played. They'll catch the games at watch parties with other fans unless they can get tickets for "cheap" day of.
The Club World Cup last summer was a test run for the policies/practices FIFA is using this summer. Stadiums were half full for the majority of games (to the best of my memory). I don't think that will be the case this summer, but I do believe people bought extra tickets to re-sell. I'm very curious to see what happens to tickets in the hours leading up to the matches. My father is treating my brother and I to two group games in KC (unfortunately not the Argentina one). We're going to try the fan fest as well (hopefully that money stays locally). I really wanted to attend an elimination game but only category 1 tickets were available when I had a chance to purchase and after this latest story, I'm really glad I didn't overpay for those tickets.
Even that is crazy expensive. We're staying in "cheap" hotels like Days Inn and they want $400+/night. Thank goodness I have rewards points to use. I thought it's wild to hear about people from other countries going into massive debt to see their team play in the WC, but it won't surprise me to hear about many Americans doing something similar just to catch a game or two.
Is there a way to get a recording or materials on this? My thesis - some 15 years ago now - was on the economic impact of hosting world cups
Reminds me off all the people that spend a ton of money they likely don't have on fireworks every year. Happy to watch them for free, but there's better things to spend your money on That being said, I'd also love to attend a game one day, but definitely not this World Cup
I'm taking my wife and kids to two knockout games in Seattle. I'm excited to attend a world cup, but pretty turned off by the pricing and the political BS. I've rarely been so ambivalent about an activity, and we "only" paid an average of about $400/ticket. We reserved an Airbnb sometime last year, and lucked out with the cost because we locked it down before the prices went up. Even if the games are a shitshow, we'll have a nice vacation in Seattle. I wonder if it's possible for FIFA to ruin whatever goodwill they have with soccer fans, and their pricing strategy ends up being an economic loser in the long run. It would probably take a lot of stupidity for a significant percentage of fans to give up on the world cup, but I'm hearing a fair amount of frustration in this thread.
My son and I are going to a match and hopefully two. We haven’t decided which ones yet. We’ll pick up tickets late and take the financial hit. I’m 70+ years old and the bucket list is more and more relevant to me. 2 years ago we spent a few days in New Orleans and attended a LSU night football game. 2 bucket list items that were great experiences and were motivating to me to get serious about the list. I agree with all of you about FIFA. But it owns these things and has been corrupt for decades. If you’re waiting for FIFA to be cleaned up before you go to one of their tournaments then you’ll never go. And if you watch their events on TV you are still supporting them.
I don't get the fireworks stuff either but I bet those are some great memories for someone. I definitely would like to get to a WC cup game but for me going to a game is like eating some buffalo wings. Not worth the effort.
Man, I hate wings. You shouldn't have work that hard to end up looking like a toddler with food all over your face and sticky fingers when you could just order the same thing in a sandwich. If it gets all over your face it just ain't worth. Talking about food.