The "Thoughts That Don't Require Their Own Thread" Thread XVI

Not gonna start a new thread for this, since the Revs won't be participating.

The 18 MLS teams that made the playoffs in 2025 will participate in Leagues Cup 2026, same format as last year.

Group stage will begin Aug 4th, after the World Cup.

Leagues Cup 2026: Competition dates, format & teams
MLSsoccer staff
Tuesday, Dec 16, 2025, 12:00 PM

 

Brazil France friendly coming to Gillette during the March window. Wonder if Revs season ticket holders will get any pre-sale opportunities.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/69...ombia-croatia-march-friendlies-world-cup-usa/

 

Hmmmm.... Reading between the lines, was he critical of the club's management for making decisions that prioritized the bottom line over on-field success? Sad to see another "soccer guy" shown the door, when we need more of these types.

 

Boston Legacy FC 2026 Schedule Released
Jan 15, 2026
by Jackie Contreras
theblazingmusket.com

Legacy will play 8 games at Gillette, and 7 at Centerville Bank Stadium (Pawtucket).

Home opener (and first regular season match) is March 14 against defending champs Gotham FC.

 

I am unhappy about essentially every part of that post. Might as well put the games in Springfield. They should have delayed a year.

 

Happy Superbowl weekend!

In the last 15 years, only 5 teams have represented the AFC in the Superbowl:
Patriots - 6
Chiefs - 5
Broncos - 2
Bengals - 1
Ravens - 1
The other 11 teams - 0

Go Pats!

 

Foxborough demands clarity on $8M World Cup security funding - ESPN

 

Does anyone think this actually amounts to a real roadblock. I can’t imagine FIFA or the Kfrafts have a lot of interest in the Foxborough board of selectman holding up the World Cup. This will get solved.

 

No doubt, but the jurisdictional boundaries will make it complicated.

I imagine FIFA has already allocated whatever money they plan to for the state agencies, to distribute as they deem adequate. I doubt FIFA wants to reopen that box, so I imagine this shapes up as a fight between the state house and Foxboro as to who gets how much of the FIFA money.

I doubt the Kraft's get a whole lot of margin, so they're going to be reluctant to kick in more money - especially since they already pay Foxboro for the Pats and Revs.

But, yeah, it's other people's problems and it'll get resolved.

 

I got notification that I didn't get selected for tickets for the WC game I put a bid in for (France/Norway). I have mixed feelings. I did feel kind of dirty for even doing business with FIFA, so I don't have to worry about that.

I imagine that some leftover tickets will be around closer to the first round, especially the less desirable matchups.

 

I hear ya. I'm lukewarm about this World Cup. Here it is. literally in our backyard and the prices are so astronomical, most regular fans won't be able to afford it.

In 1994, I had 4 Category 2 tickets for all the Foxboro games, and IIRC it was $40 for the Group games, $50 for the R-16, and $60 for the quarterfinal. Not cheap in those days, but that would be like $100-$150 in today's money, which is about what a concert might cost. In Germany in 2006, I believe it was 50 euro for group games.

It will only be the Richie-rich types who will be at the games this time around, unless it's folks who live in this country and didn't mind massively overspending for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to see their country in a World Cup.

 

MLS Media continues with their head-scratching moves. First they shutter MLS Wrap Up, then this time firing Matt Doyle (aka Armchair Analyst) from MLSSoccer.com:

Fifteen years ago, I got my dream job writing for MLSsoccer. Last week, that came to an end.

I'm off on my own, and it's time to build something new – with a little help from all of you.https://t.co/qHzsbNWyTh pic.twitter.com/1pES8LxDUD

— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) February 11, 2026

I always enjoyed his commentary, he will be missed.

 

I'm in the latter category. Had a friend from my co-ed team reach out that their sibling got selected in one of the fall lotteries and they had some ticket slots to offer. By random chance we ended up getting Norway v France. My tickets are category 3 so we'll be in the 300s but it cost waaaaay more than I would normally spend on any type of entertainment event. Just had to take the chance to take my son to a WC game.